On February 10, nine people, including the attacker, died in a shooting in Tumbler Ridge, British Columbia. A few weeks later, a group of people in favour of gun rights rallied in front of the National Assembly of Quebec. These events reignited discussions about gun control. Here’s an overview of the current rules and upcoming changes.
In 1995, the federal government adopted the Firearms Act. This law requires anyone who owns a firearm to get a licence and register their firearm, with some exceptions. Possessing an unregistered firearm thus became a crime.
This law created two registries that still exist today:
- The Canadian Firearms Registry for
- prohibited firearms, like automatic firearms,
- restricted firearms, like handguns that aren’t prohibited firearms.
- A registry for each province and territory of all firearms licences that have been issued or revoked.
The registries have information on things like refused licence applications and issued licences and registration certificates.
To get a licence to possess a firearm, a person must meet many conditions. For example, they must usually be over 18 and successfully complete mandatory safety courses.
Before issuing the licence, the government checks their criminal record to see if they find anything relevant, like the use of violence against someone, or an attempt or threat to use violence against someone. The government also checks whether the individual has received treatment for a mental health disorder linked to violent behaviour.
Recent changes to federal rules
In December 2023, the Canadian government strengthened gun control. Following those changes, new registration certificates for handguns can’t be issued to individuals. This means that the national freeze that prevents people from selling, buying or transferring handguns, in effect since 2022, is now law. However, people who owned handguns before the freeze are allowed to keep them.
The changes to the rules also broadened the Criminal Code’s definition of a prohibited firearm and banned the possession or distribution of information that makes it possible to make firearms illegally using 3D printers or other methods.
There are also new measures that allow firearms licences to be removed from people suspected of family violence.
And in Quebec?
Since 2018, the Quebec government has set up the Québec Firearms Registration Service (SIAF). In addition to having a licence, most gun owners must register their firearms. This obligation applies even if the person owned their firearm before 2018.
The information provided during registration includes where the firearm is stored and the owner’s contact details. This information is not public, but it can be shared with competent authorities when the law requires it or if the licence holder consents.
However, some firearms aren’t covered by the Firearms Registration Act. This means there’s no obligation to register them with the SIAF. For example, non-restricted firearms kept in Quebec for less than 45 days don’t need to be registered. These non-restricted firearms are usually long guns used for hunting, like rifles and shotguns.
Prohibited and restricted firearms don’t need to be registered with the SIAF, but they must still be recorded in the federal registry.
Upcoming changes
To combat gun violence, the federal government has banned more than 2,500 brands and models of assault-style firearms considered dangerous since May 2020. The Assault-Style Firearms Compensation Program (ASFCP) was introduced to give fair compensation to people who voluntarily get rid of their guns.
Eligible gun owners have until March 31, 2026, to submit their applications online or by mail. Applications are processed on a first-come, first-served basis, depending on available funds.
Gun owners who don’t participate in the program must still get rid of their firearms or permanently deactivate them by October 30, 2026. Anyone who is still in possession of prohibited firearms after that date will be breaking the law and risks losing their licence and facing criminal charges.
Another upcoming change concerns firearms markings. In 2004, the federal government adopted the Firearms Markings Regulations. The regulations’ goal is mainly to counter international trafficking by improving firearms tracing. After being postponed a dozen times under different governments, the regulations were scheduled to come into force on December 1, 2025, but they have yet again been pushed back to December 1, 2027.
Public Safety Canada confirms that this extra time is in part to allow manufacturers and importers, particularly small businesses, to prepare.