Firearms

Public Safety Canada is responsible for developing the legislative, policy, and regulatory requirements for the safe and legal use of firearms and firearms-related operational policing issues; and policy expertise on guns and gangs and the administration of the Firearms Act. Working with portfolio partners, Public Safety engages with the community through stakeholder consultations in order to manage and implement the Government's firearms commitments and other proposed firearms-related measures.

Bill C-21: An Act to amend certain Acts and to make certain consequential amendments (firearms) and regulatory amendments, to advance the national 'freeze' on handguns, are part of a comprehensive strategy to address gun violence and strengthen gun control in Canada.

Prohibition on assault-style firearms

On May 1, 2020 the Government of Canada prohibited over 1,500 models of assault-style firearms and certain components of some prohibited firearms (the upper receivers of M16, AR-10, AR-15, and M4 patterns of firearms). Maximum thresholds for muzzle energy (greater than 10,000 Joules) and bore diameter (20 mm bore or greater) are also in place. Any firearm that exceeds them is now prohibited. A Criminal Code amnesty period is currently in effect to October 30, 2025. The amnesty is designed to protect individuals or businesses who, at the time the prohibition came into force, were in lawful possession of a newly prohibited firearm from criminal liability while they take steps to comply with the law. On December 5, 2024, the Government announced that a further 324 unique makes and models of assault-style firearms are now prohibited in Canada.

• Assault-Style Firearms Compensation Program
• List of prohibited firearms (2020 prohibition)
• List of prohibited firearms (2024 prohibition)
• Questions and Answers: Changes to prohibited firearms
• Consolidated Acts and Regulations

Strengthening accountability through assessment

On December 13, 2024, the Government tabled proposed new regulations to create a new reporting obligation on firearms businesses that import or manufacture firearms.

For each shipment or batch of firearms, importers and manufacturers would be required to provide the firearm's technical information to the Canadian Firearms Program (CFP) at the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) prior to import or manufacture. This information must be sent once, for each make and model, per shipment or batch, for all classifications of firearms.

This proposed regulation would not impact individual firearm owners.

The regulations strengthen accountability and complement the December 5, 2024, prohibition of assault-style firearms.

The proposed regulations will be published in the Canada Gazette, Part I on December 28, 2024. Comments will be accepted until February 10, 2025. For an advanced copy, please contact: ps.firearms-armesafeu.sp@ps-sp.gc.ca.

Date modified:

2024-12-18