Vol. 147, No. 11 — May 22, 2013

Registration

SOR/2013-95 May 9, 2013

FIREARMS ACT

Regulations Amending the Firearms Licences Regulations

P.C. 2013-550 May 9, 2013

Whereas the Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness is of the opinion that the changes made to the Firearms Licences Regulations (see footnote a) by the annexed Regulations Amending the Firearms Licences Regulations are so immaterial and insubstantial that section 118 of the Firearms Act (see footnote b) should not be applicable in the circumstances;

And whereas that Minister will, in accordance with subsection 119(4) of that Act, have a statement of the reasons why he formed that opinion laid before each House of Parliament;

Therefore, His Excellency the Governor General in Council, on the recommendation of the Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness, pursuant to paragraph 117(a) of the Firearms Act (see footnote c), makes the annexed Regulations Amending the Firearms Licences Regulations.

REGULATIONS AMENDING THE FIREARMS LICENCES REGULATIONS

AMENDMENTS

1. (1) Paragraph 7(1)(b) of the Firearms Licences Regulations (see footnote 1) is replaced by the following:

  • (b) the individual held a licence to possess firearms that was first applied for before January 1, 2001, which has expired, and subsequently applies for a licence to possess firearms before May 17, 2014.

(2) Subsection 7(4) of the Regulations is replaced by the following:

(4) For the purposes of subsections (2) and (3), an individual remains eligible to hold a possession licence despite the expiry, before May 17, 2014, of a possession licence held by the individual.

COMING INTO FORCE

2. These Regulations come into force on the day on which they are registered.

REGULATORY IMPACT ANALYSIS STATEMENT

(This statement is not part of the Regulations or the Order.)

Issue

The amendments extend two firearms compliance measures until May 16, 2014: the Regulations Amending the Firearms Licences Regulations (i.e. the Possession Only Licence renewal measure) and the Order Declaring an Amnesty Period (2006) which, collectively, help to maintain and increase compliance with federal firearms legislation. Not extending these measures could have deterred some firearms owners from becoming compliant with federal firearms legislation and thereby undermined public safety. The firearms licence fee waiver has not been extended.

Background

The amendments to the Firearms Licences Regulations andthe Order Declaring an Amnesty Period (2006) renew measures intended to maintain and increase compliance with the Firearms Act and the Criminal Code.

On May 17, 2006, the Government introduced a two-year licence renewal fee waiver, so that individuals applying to renew or upgrade (e.g. from non-restricted to restricted) their firearms licences were not charged any fees (SOR/2006-96). Also in 2006, a one-year Amnesty Order was introduced (SOR/2006-95). The effect of the amnesty was that non-restricted firearms owners who did not meet registration or licensing requirements, and who were taking steps to comply with these requirements, were protected from criminal liability.

On May 10, 2007, the Amnesty Order was extended until May 16, 2008 (SOR/2007-101).

On May 8, 2008, the Government extended, for one year, until May 2009, both the fee waiver and the Amnesty Order (SOR/2008-145; SOR/2008-147).

On May 8, 2008, the Government introduced a Firearms Act regulatory amendment to enable individuals with expired Possession Only Licences (POLs) to apply for new POLs (SOR/2008-146) for a limited period of time. Prior to the introduction of the POL renewal measure, firearms owners could only renew their POLs if they had not expired. Otherwise, to legally retain their firearms, they were required to pay for and complete the Canadian Firearms Safety Course as a prerequisite to obtaining a Possession and Acquisition Licence (PAL), which authorizes both possession and acquisition of firearms. This POL renewal measure was set to expire on May 17, 2009.

On May 7, 2009, the three compliance measures were extended until May 16, 2010 (SOR/2009-137; SOR/2009-138; SOR/2009-139), and on May 13, 2010, the compliance measures were extended until May 16, 2011 (SOR/2010-102; SOR/2010-103; SOR/2010-104).

On March 25, 2011, the POL renewal and Amnesty Order were extended for two years, until May 16, 2013 (SOR/2011-102; SOR/2011-103), while on May 16, 2011, the licence fee waiver was extended only one year, until May 16, 2012 (SOR/2011-111).

On May 11, 2012, the fee waiver for licences with restricted and prohibited privileges was extended until September 17, 2012, while the fee waiver for licences with non-restricted privileges only was extended to May 16, 2013 (SOR/2012-101).

The three compliance measures (i.e. the POL renewal measure, the Amnesty Order and the licence fee waiver), introduced as temporary incentives for individuals to come into compliance with firearms legislation, are scheduled to expire on May 16, 2013. Since they have been in effect, licence compliance rates (i.e. individuals whose licence is scheduled to expire, and who continue to possess at least one firearm, and who are taking steps to renew their licence) have increased from 82%, in 2006, to 86% in 2012.

Possession Only Licence holders are mostly experienced firearms owners often living in rural or remote regions where access to training is limited. Having these individuals pay for and complete the firearms safety training course to obtain a firearms licence has been described by firearms owners and advocates as a disincentive to compliance. Firearms owners who are currently not in compliance with federal firearms legislation are unlikely to return to compliance without steps being taken to encourage their doing so. In 2008, there were approximately 197 000 individuals with expired POLs. Between May 2008, when this measure was introduced, and April 2012, 50 500 individuals took advantage of this measure.

The purpose of the Amnesty Order has been to protect noncompliant owners of non-restricted firearms from criminal liability while they are taking steps to comply with the legal requirements for licensing or registration. With the coming into force of Bill C-19, the Ending the Long-gun Registry Act, on April 5, 2012, the requirement to register non-restricted firearms and the associated penalties for failing to do so have been repealed. Following the coming into force of Bill C-19, and pursuant to a decision of the Quebec Superior Court on September 10, 2012, the federal government is required to maintain registration of non-restricted firearms in Quebec and individuals are required to have a registration certificate in order to transfer a non-restricted firearm. The Attorney General of Canada appealed the Quebec Superior Court decision.

Accordingly, the extension of the Amnesty Order encourages compliance by non-restricted firearms owners with the licensing requirements across Canada, and in Quebec, with the registration of non-restricted firearms.

The POL renewal measure is relieving in nature and, together with the Amnesty Order which protects individuals who are taking steps to comply with federal firearms legislation from prosecution, helps maintain favourable conditions to encourage compliance with the licensing and registration requirements of the Firearms Act.

The fee waiver allowed licensees to renew their licence at no cost. In September 2012, the Government started phasing back the fee waiver for restricted and prohibited licences as part of Canada's Economic Action Plan (www.actionplan.gc.ca). Continuing the current fee waiver for licences with only non-restricted privileges for an additional year would have cost approximately $18 million in foregone revenue. The Government did not renew the current fee waiver in the current climate of fiscal restraint. The cost of renewing a licence with non-restricted privileges only is $60, while the cost of renewing a licence with restricted/prohibited privileges is $80.

Objectives

The objectives of the Regulations and the Order are to extend two of the three compliance measures — the POL renewal and amnesty — for one more year, until May 16, 2014.

The proposal is consistent with the main objective of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) Canadian Firearms Program (CFP), which is to enhance public safety. This is achieved, in part, by maximizing the number of firearms owners who comply with the licensing and registration requirements set out in the Firearms Act and the Criminal Code. Such individuals are subject to continuous eligibility screening as a condition of possessing a firearms licence.

Continuous eligibility screening, which is a part of firearms licensing, recognizes that an individual's circumstances, including the appropriateness of ongoing firearms possession, change over time. Such screening ensures that certain interactions with law enforcement on the part of lawful firearms owners are brought to the attention of chief firearms officers, if they are recorded in the Canadian Police Information Centre. This allows the authorities to take appropriate action, as required, including the revocation of a licence and seizure of a firearm. When a firearms owner becomes non-compliant (i.e. does not renew a licence), they are no longer within the ambit of the CFP's jurisdiction. As a result, the Privacy Act, among other legislation, prevents the RCMP from conducting further continuous eligibility screening, thereby withdrawing a meaningful tool enabling the CFP to take pre-emptive measures in dealing with higher-risk firearms owners.

Description

The regulatory amendments and the Order extend, for one year, until May 16, 2014,

  • (i) the POL renewal measure, thereby removing the requirement for previous holders of these licences to take the firearms safety training course and obtain a PAL; and

  • (ii) the Amnesty Order which protects non-compliant owners of non-restricted firearms from criminal liability while they are taking steps to comply with the registration requirements (in Quebec only due to the decision of the Quebec Superior Court) and the licensing requirements, across Canada, of the Firearms Act and the Criminal Code.

“One-for-One” Rule

The “One-for-One” Rule does not apply to these measures, as there is no change in administrative costs to business.

Small business lens

The small business lens does not apply to these measures, as there are no costs on small business.

Consultation

On April 13, 2013, regulatory amendments to extend the POL renewal and the Amnesty Order were prepublished in the Canada Gazette, Part I, followed by a 15-day public comment period.During this period, 13 comments were received from 9 individuals and 4 organizations (i.e. various chief medical officers, the Coalition for Gun Control). Of those who responded, all opposed a further extension of the Amnesty Order given concerns that the amnesty could compromise the accuracy and reliability of licence information. Other comments suggested that the continuance of the amnesty could serve as a disincentive for some firearms owners to comply with existing legal requirements as there are no consequences for failing to do so. While there were no comments received regarding the POL renewal measure, some expressed concern that allowing the fee waiver to expire could serve as a disincentive to complying with federal licensing requirements. The Government considered the views of these stakeholders; however, given the importance of advancing these measures from a public safety perspective (e.g. increase licence compliance), the Government elected to move forward with the regulatory amendments.

On April 9, 2011, regulatory amendments to extend the firearms licence renewal fee waiver were prepublished in Part I of the Canada Gazette, followed by a 15-day public comment period.There were no comments received.

Previous consultations undertaken by the Government have focused on all three compliance measures (POL renewal, Amnesty Order and fee waiver). A summary of the comments received in previous consultations on compliance measures is as follows.

On March 20, 2010, the previous regulatory amendments to extend the suite of measures to increase compliance were prepublished in the Canada Gazette, Part I, followed by a 15-day public comment period. During this period, 15 comments were received from 12 individuals and 3 organizations, including the Coalition for Gun Control, the National Council of Women and the Ad Hoc Coalition for Women's Equality and Human Rights. Of the respondents, all opposed the extension of the Amnesty Order, expressing concern that it was reducing the effectiveness of the firearms registry and providing immunity to long-gun owners from complying with federal firearms legislation. There were no comments directed towards the fee waiver. The Government considered the views of these stakeholders but elected to move forward with the regulatory amendments and the Order, given their importance from a public safety perspective.

On March 28, 2009, the regulatory amendments were prepublished in the Canada Gazette, Part I, followed by a 30-day public comment period. During this period, four comments were received, two from organizations and two from individuals. Of the respondents, two supported the proposed extension of the firearms compliance measures, while two opposed the extension of the Amnesty Order. Those who supported the proposed Regulations and Order expressed their belief that these measures were part of the Government's commitment to repeal the long-gun registry, while opponents expressed concern that the amnesty was reducing the effectiveness of the firearms registry and providing immunity to long-gun owners from complying with federal firearms legislation.

On March 1, 2008, the regulatory amendments were prepublished in Part I of the Canada Gazette,followed by a 30-day public comment period. During the prepublication period between March 1 and 31, 2008, 131 comments were received via email, fax, telephone message, and letters concerning the proposed implementation of the compliance measures. Almost all of the input on the two regulations and the Order came from individuals rather than organizations: 126 individuals, 4 organizations and 1 provincial government commented on the proposal. Overall, support for the regulatory amendments and the Order was high, with some of the respondents indicating that they thought the initiatives were a positive compliance incentive. The majority of those in favour also noted their belief that there is a need to focus legislative measures to control firearms on criminals rather than otherwise law-abiding Canadians, while also expressing concern over the amount of money they believe has been spent on the CFP.

Nine respondents (one province, four organizations and four individuals) who did not support the combined initiatives in 2008 expressed specific concern towards the Amnesty Order extension. The Attorney General of Ontario was of the opinion that repeated extensions to the Amnesty Order are leading to a deterioration of the data currently available to police in the Canadian Firearms Information System. Other opponents also felt that individuals have had sufficient time (since 1995) to familiarize themselves with the requirements of the law and expressed views critical of how the Government is handling the CFP. Those who selfidentified as being licensed owners with registered firearms, who are currently in compliance with the law, were concerned that non-compliant individuals are being given too many opportunities to comply when information has been readily available for so long.

Rationale

Public safety is enhanced by this proposal, in part by maximizing the number of firearms owners who comply with the licensing and registration requirements set out in the Firearms Act and the Criminal Code. Such individuals are subject to continuous eligibility screening as a condition of possessing a firearms licence.

Implementation, enforcement and service standards

Communication efforts will focus on who can avail themselves of these measures, how to do so, and the period during which these measures will be in effect. In an effort to increase voluntary compliance, communication efforts emphasize the Government's commitment to improving public safety through effective gun control and tackling the criminal use of firearms, while reducing unnecessary administrative requirements on firearms owners.

Under federal firearms legislation currently in force, to be in lawful possession of a firearm, an individual must hold a licence issued under the Firearms Act and, in the case of a restricted or prohibited firearm, a registration certificate. In Quebec, individuals must also hold a registration certificate for non-restricted firearms.

Owners are expected to take positive steps to comply as set out in the Order Declaring an Amnesty Period (2006), with the Firearms Act and the Criminal Code.

Contacts

Ryan Doyle
Manager
Law Enforcement and Policing Branch
Public Safety Canada
Ottawa, Ontario
K1A 0P8
Telephone (general inquiries): 1-800-830-3118 or 613-944-4875
Fax: 613-993-5252
Email: firearms@ps.gc.ca

Paula Clarke
Counsel
Criminal Law Policy Section
Department of Justice
Ottawa, Ontario
K1A 0H8
Telephone: 613-957-4728
Fax: 613-941-9310
Email: paula.clarke@justice.gc.ca