Summary#

This bill changes Canada’s Criminal Code, Firearms Act, Nuclear Safety and Control Act, and Immigration and Refugee Protection Act. It raises penalties for key gun crimes, creates new emergency orders to remove guns in risky situations, restricts handgun transfers to most individuals, and targets “ghost guns” and 3D-printed firearms. It also sets new rules for nuclear site security and adds a new inadmissibility ground for certain border crimes.

• Raises maximum sentences for several firearms offences to 14 years (Criminal Code ss. 95, 96, 99, 100, 103).
• Lets anyone apply for a 30-day emergency prohibition order to remove guns from a person who poses a safety risk; longer orders can follow a hearing (Criminal Code s. 110.1; s. 111).
• Treats unlawfully made guns as prohibited and creates offences for 3D gun files and altering magazines (Criminal Code s. 84(1) “prohibited firearm”; s. 102.1; s. 104.1).
• Stops new handgun registration certificates for individuals, with limited exemptions (Firearms Act s. 12.2; s. 97.1).
• Tightens import, transfer, and advertising rules for firearms, magazines, and parts (Firearms Act ss. 25, 25.1, 27, 32, 36–38, “Advertising” offence).
• Allows nuclear sites to field trained, armed security with limited peace officer powers (Nuclear Safety and Control Act ss. 27.1–27.4).

What it means for you#

• Households and individuals

  • You can seek a fast, 30-day court order to prohibit someone from having guns if you believe there is a safety risk; judges can keep your information private (Criminal Code s. 110.1; ss. 110.2–110.3).
  • If you live with someone under a gun prohibition, a judge can place limits on your access to guns in the home for up to 30 days to keep that person from access (Criminal Code s. 117.0101).
  • Many parts take effect on dates set by the Governor in Council; some parts take effect 30 days after Royal Assent (Coming into Force).

• Gun owners

  • No new handgun registration certificates will be issued to individuals. Transfers are limited to businesses and exempted people (e.g., certain sport shooters, or those with an authorization to carry) (Firearms Act s. 12.2; s. 97.1; s. 23.2(d.1)).
  • If you become subject to a protection order, your licence is automatically revoked and you must deliver any firearms within 24 hours (or an extended period set by the chief firearms officer) (Firearms Act s. 70.3).
  • A chief firearms officer must revoke your licence within 24 hours if they reasonably suspect domestic violence or stalking (Firearms Act s. 70.2).
  • A chief firearms officer must suspend your ability to use, acquire, and import firearms for up to 30 days if they reasonably suspect you are no longer eligible (Firearms Act s. 69.1; s. 69.2).
  • It is an offence to possess or share certain computer files for 3D printing or machining a firearm or prohibited device for the purpose of making or trafficking one (up to 10 years) (Criminal Code s. 102.1).
  • It is an offence to alter a legal magazine so it becomes a prohibited device (up to 5 years) (Criminal Code s. 104.1).
  • “Firearm parts” (e.g., barrels, handgun slides, and others set by regulation) are now covered by many offences and search powers (Criminal Code s. 84(1) “firearm part”).
  • A future category of semi-automatic, centre-fire firearms with detachable magazines of 6+ designed and made after the coming-into-force date will be prohibited (Criminal Code s. 84(1)(e)).

• Sport shooters

  • You may be exempt from the handgun transfer limits only if you meet criteria and annually provide a letter from an approved sport shooting body for Olympic/Paralympic disciplines, or hold an authorization to carry (Firearms Act s. 97.1).

• Businesses and carriers

  • Dealers must verify buyer eligibility and, for handguns, whether the buyer is an exempted individual; transfers of magazines and firearm parts to individuals require the individual to hold a firearms licence (Firearms Act ss. 25(2), 25.1, 27–28).
  • Advertising a firearm in a way that depicts, counsels, or promotes violence against a person is an offence, with exceptions for the film industry, Canadian Forces, and public safety personnel (Firearms Act “Advertising” offence).
  • Carrier employees are protected from certain offences for possession/transfer in the course of their duties (Criminal Code s. 117.09(3)).

• Travelers and non-residents

  • To import ammunition, cartridge magazines, or firearm parts, individuals must show a valid licence, or if a non-resident 18+, make a confirmed declaration; customs can detain or dispose of items if rules are not met (Firearms Act ss. 36–38).

• Nuclear facility operators

  • High-security sites must maintain an on-site nuclear response force of designated, trained officers, unless approved alternative arrangements are in place; limited peace officer powers apply on-site (Nuclear Safety and Control Act ss. 27.2–27.3).
  • The regulator may authorize acquisition and use of firearms, prohibited weapons, and prohibited devices for site security, with reporting duties (Nuclear Safety and Control Act s. 27.4).

• Foreign nationals

  • A new inadmissibility ground applies for committing a prescribed offence under an Act of Parliament on entering Canada (IRPA s. 36(2.1)).

Expenses#

• Estimated net cost: Data unavailable.
• Government operations and justice system:
  • New court processes for emergency gun orders and related hearings (Criminal Code ss. 110.1, 111, 117.0101, 117.011). Data unavailable.
  • Added duties for chief firearms officers (suspensions, revocations, notices) and the Registrar, plus annual reporting by May 31 (Firearms Act ss. 69.1–70.3, 87, 93). Data unavailable.
  • Law enforcement tasks for seizures, returns, and investigations, including new offences (Criminal Code ss. 102.1, 104.1; Firearms Act s. 88.1). Data unavailable.
• Nuclear sector:
  • High-security site requirements for staffing, training, equipment, and reporting (Nuclear Safety and Control Act ss. 27.2–27.4). Data unavailable.
• Businesses and individuals:
  • Compliance work for transfers, imports, and advertising rules (Firearms Act ss. 25–28, 32, 36–38, “Advertising” offence). Data unavailable.

Proponents' View#

• Targets “ghost guns” and 3D-printed weapons by prohibiting unlawfully made firearms and criminalizing key computer data used to make them (Criminal Code s. 84(1) “prohibited firearm”; s. 102.1).
• Reduces handgun proliferation by stopping new individual registrations and limiting transfers to businesses and narrow exemptions (Firearms Act s. 12.2; s. 97.1).
• Provides fast protection in domestic violence and stalking risks through 30-day emergency orders and mandatory or automatic licence actions (Criminal Code s. 110.1; Firearms Act ss. 70.2–70.3).
• Increases maximum penalties to 14 years for trafficking and related offences to reflect seriousness and deter organized crime (Criminal Code ss. 95, 96, 99, 100, 103).
• Closes loopholes on magazine tampering and brings key parts under the law to curb illegal modification and assembly (Criminal Code s. 104.1; s. 84(1) “firearm part”).
• Enhances security at nuclear sites by allowing trained on-site forces with defined, limited powers and mandatory oversight and reporting (Nuclear Safety and Control Act ss. 27.2–27.4).

Opponents' View#

• Due process and privacy concerns: emergency orders can be issued ex parte with search and seizure, including without a warrant in urgent cases, and records can be sealed; risks of misuse or uneven application (Criminal Code ss. 110.1(2),(5)–(7); 117.0101(2),(6)–(8)).
• Broad administrative discretion: licence suspensions and revocations based on “reasonable grounds to suspect” may vary by province; appeals add workload to courts and police (Firearms Act ss. 69.1–70.3; 72(4)–(10)).
• Economic impact on lawful owners and retailers: stopping new handgun registrations and limiting transfers may reduce sales and asset liquidity; no compensation mechanism in the bill text (Firearms Act s. 12.2; s. 27). Data unavailable.
• Vagueness in advertising offence (“depicts, counsels or promotes violence”) could chill lawful marketing; scope will depend on future enforcement and any guidance (Firearms Act “Advertising” offence).
• Prospective prohibition on certain future semi-automatic designs and undefined “firearm parts” to be set by regulation may create compliance uncertainty until regulations are issued (Criminal Code s. 84(1)(e) and “firearm part”).
• New IRPA inadmissibility for “prescribed” offences relies on regulations; without a set list, scope and consistency at the border are uncertain (IRPA s. 36(2.1); Immigration Regulations s. 19).