Question Period Note: Government Measures to Reduce Gun Violence

• Canada saw a slight decrease in firearm-related homicides from 2022 to 2023, however there has been an increase in firearm-related violent crimes over a ten year period (2013-2023).

• The Government of Canada has launched several initiatives to strengthen the firearms regime and combat gun violence.

• Our Government will continue to pursue a comprehensive approach to keep Canadians and Canadian communities safe.

• This work will build on the significant new measures now in place to strengthen the firearms regime, combat illicit firearms activity, and address risks posed by firearms in gender-based and intimate partner violence .

• These measures complement significant investments to enhance law enforcement capacity in Canada and at the border, as well as to support community prevention and intervention programs.

• Everyone in Canada deserves to be safe and to feel safe in their homes and in their communities. Our Government will continue to play a leadership role and stands ready to work with provinces, territories, municipalities, and Indigenous communities in taking action to reduce gun violence.

Firearms Investments

• The government has invested over $1.4 billion since 2016 in measures to reduce gun violence.

• In 2018, $356.1 million over five years was allocated for the ITAAGGV. In 2023, the initiative was renewed for an additional five years through 2028. The majority of funds are allocated to provinces and territories (P/T) under the Gun and Gang Violence Action Fund (GGVAF) to combat gun and gang violence in communities across Canada.

• Launched in March 2022, the $250 million initiative seeks to counter social conditions that may lead to criminality by bolstering gang prevention programming through direct funding to municipalities and Indigenous communities. The program sunsets in March 2026. As of May 2024, 85 contribution agreements have been signed (including the one with the Province of Québec as per M-30 legislation).

• In 2021, an investment of $312 million over five years, starting in 2021–22, and $41.4 million ongoing was made to enhance Canada’s firearm control framework across PS, CBSA and RCMP Canadian Firearms Program (CFP) to strengthen services to support the lawful acquisition, ownership and use of firearms by enhancing services to Canadians and law enforcement; to increase capacity to trace crime guns and target firearms smuggling and trafficking; and enhance firearms policy advice and promote awareness of firearms programs.

• Building on Budget 2021 investments, the Government invested an additional $3.4 million over five years, starting in 2022-23, and $1.5 million ongoing to support the implementation of former Bill C-21, including a red flag awareness campaign.

• In 2024, as part of the Government Response to the Mass Casualty Commission’s Final Report, the Government announced an investment of $22.5 million over five years and $3.3 million ongoing, starting 2024-25 to PS to increase public awareness, enhance firearms data collection and strengthen firearms regulations. Additionally, in 2024, an investment of $7.4 million over five years, starting in 2024-25 to the RCMP to modernize the CFP’s telephone and case management systems.

Cross-Border Smuggling

• On February 23, 2021, the Roadmap for a Renewed U.S.-Canada Partnership was unveiled, forming the Cross-Border Firearms Task Force (CBFTF), co-led by CBSA, RCMP, the American Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the United States’ Immigration and Customs Enforcement under Homeland Security Investigations (ICE/HIS).

• The task force aims to identify primary sources of illicit firearms and disrupt their flow across the shared border.

Implementation of Former Bill C-21

• Former Bill C-21, An Act to amend certain Acts and to make certain consequential amendments (firearms), received Royal Assent on December 15, 2023.

• The Bill enshrined in legislation the national freeze on handguns, which took effect via regulation in October 2022. The vast majority of individuals can no longer buy, sell, or import handguns into Canada.

• Maximum penalties for gun trafficking have increased from 10 to 14 years, and new authorities to combat firearms smuggling and related offences have been created.

• The Bill also introduced measures to address the growing threat of illegally manufactured firearms or “ghost guns”, with new computer data offences targeting illegal manufacturing (e.g., 3D printing) and trafficking of “ghost guns”, new licence requirements for certain firearms parts, and illegally made firearms now classified as prohibited.

• The Bill also introduced new “red flag” laws, which allow anyone to apply to a court for an order to temporarily remove or remove access to firearms for up to 30 days when a person may be a danger to themself or others.

• The Bill also introduced enhanced licence revocation and ineligibility measures. An individual is ineligible to hold a licence if they have been convicted of an offence in which violence was used, threatened or attempted against their intimate partner or any member of their family or are subject to a protection order. And a licence will be revoked if the holder is subject to a protection order and must be revoked if a Chief Firearms Officer suspects the licence holder may have engaged in domestic violence.

• With one exception, all measures introduced in former Bill C-21 are in force and implemented. For the new licence revocation and ineligibility provisions to be fully operative, the term protection order must be defined in regulation and remaining provisions brought into force.

If Pressed
Q1- Firearm Laws
• Significant enhancements have been made to Canada’s firearms laws .
• New licence requirements are in effect, maximum penalties for firearms trafficking and smuggling have been increased, and a suite of new harm reduction tools are in place.
• Work will continue to ensure Canada’s firearms regime is responsible and effective, supporting the safe use of firearms by law-abiding firearms owners across Canada and protecting Canadian communities against the devasting impact of firearms violence on our communities.

Q2- Law enforcement

• Effective enforcement and operational cooperation is critical to combatting firearms violence, and significant investments have been made to enhance law enforcement and border security.
• This includes funding to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) to increase capacity to trace crime guns and enhance anti-smuggling activities, and funding for Canadian Border Services Agency (CBSA) to strengthen border controls to prevent firearms smuggling into Canada.
• We will also continue to strengthen cooperation with United States partners, including through the Cross Border Firearms Task Force.