Amending the Conditions of Transferring Firearms and Other Weapons Regulations and Firearms Licences Regulations
Enabling Act(s)
An Act to amend certain Acts and Regulations in relation to firearms (formerly Bill C-71)
Description
The Conditions of Transferring Firearms and Other Weapons Regulations would be amended to prescribe, in the case of the transfer of a non-restricted firearm, the information that the transferee (person acquiring) must provide to the transferor (person selling/giving) to allow for firearms licence verification (i.e. to ensure the licence is valid). Further, the amendment would prescribe the period of validity of the reference number issued by the Registrar signifying that the licence is valid (the transferor would obtain a reference number by querying an online portal).
The Firearms Licences Regulations would be amended to prescribe the following for businesses, in relation to non-restricted firearms:
- the information to be kept on the firearm and the buyer;
- the period of time for which this information must be kept; and,
- the official to whom the records must be sent when it is no longer a business.
The Firearms Licences Regulations may also be amended in relation to the retention period for business transfer records; and, concerning the destruction of business records by the prescribed official.
Potential impacts on Canadians, including businesses
Persons, including businesses, will have to verify firearms licences prior to transferring non-restricted firearms. Firearms businesses will have to keep a record of the reference number and date of issue. Businesses will also be required to maintain prescribed records on possession and disposal. Costs could be incurred by businesses that do not currently keep inventories.
Consultations
The Canadian Firearms Advisory Committee was consulted on elements of the Act in 2017, prior to its introduction in March 2018, including licence verification and business record-keeping. Further, stakeholders had an opportunity to appear before, and provide submissions to, the Standing Committee on Public Safety and National Security and the Standing Senate Committee on National Security and Defence when Bill C-71 was under review by Parliament. Further consultations on the proposed regulations may occur as required.
Further information
N/A
Departmental contact information
Manager, Firearms Policy
Community Safety and Countering Crime Branch
ps.firearms-armesafeu.sp@canada.ca
Date the regulatory initiative was first included in the Forward Regulatory Plan
April 2021.
- Date modified: