Parliamentary Committee Notes: Provincial/Territorial Positions on Firearms

Provincial/Territorial Positions on Firearms
Province/Territory Overall Position on Federal Firearms Measures Relevant Positions/Actions
British Columbia Overall supportive
  • Expressed support for the assault-style firearms (ASF) prohibition at July 2020 FPT DMs Responsible for Justice and Public Safety meeting.
  • Passed the Firearm Violence Prevention Act (FVPA) in March 2021.
Alberta Overall significantly opposing
  • Publicly opposes ASF prohibition.
  • Passed law to prevent municipalities from passing bylaws to restrict handguns.
  • Established the Alberta Firearms Advisory Committee to advocate positions for firearms ownership.
  • Appointed first provincial Chief Firearms Officer in August 2021.
  • Provincial CFO wrote Minister of Public Safety to ask to overturn the ASF ban in April 2022.
  • Opposed former Bill C-21, but supports efforts to address smuggling.
Saskatchewan Overall significantly opposing
  • Publicly opposes ASF prohibition.
  • Passed law to prevent municipalities from passing bylaws to restrict handguns.
  • Appointed first Chief Firearms Officer in September 2021.
  • Opposed former Bill C-21, but supports efforts to address smuggling.
Manitoba Overall opposing
  • Opposed former Bill C-21, but supports efforts to address smuggling.
  • Appointed committee to study former Bill C-21, which reported unfavourably on the legislation and recommended that Manitoba appoint a provincial CFO.
Ontario Overall balanced
  • Calls for firearms focus to be on criminal use of firearms, but has not publicly opposed former Bill C-21 in its entirety.
  • Will support new wiretap offences it requested.
Quebec Overall supportive
  • Supported ASF prohibition.
  • Supports further handgun restrictions.
  • Opposed former Bill C-21, but largely due to municipal handgun restrictions that Quebec maintained should be delegated to provinces.
New Brunswick No strong public opinion n/a
Prince Edward Island No strong public opinion n/a
Nova Scotia Overall supportive
  • FPT DM and ADM tables have shown general support for federal positions, including ASF ban and further restrictions on handguns.
Newfoundland and Labrador No strong public opinion n/a
Nunavut No strong public opinion n/a
Northwest Territories No strong public opinion n/a
Yukon No strong public opinion n/a
Date modified: