Erratum: Handgun Registration Wording

Summary#

This is an erratum (correction) published March 15, 2023 for the final regulations titled Regulations Amending Certain Regulations Made Under the Firearms Act: SOR/2022-219, which were first published November 9, 2022. The correction fixes two wording errors in the published text so it clearly identifies who issues registration certificates for restricted and prohibited handguns and avoids a confusing abbreviation.

What it does#

• Replaces a sentence in the Background section so it says restricted and prohibited handguns are registered via a certificate issued by the Registrar of Firearms (not by the Chief Firearms Officers).
• Replaces the last paragraph in the Description section to use the full term Chief Firearms Officers instead of the abbreviation “CFOs.”
• Notes that these are corrections to the published text of the regulations, not a new policy change.

Who's affected#

• People who own, transfer, or apply to register restricted or prohibited handguns.
• Staff and administrators who process firearm certificates and transfers, including the Registrar of Firearms and Chief Firearms Officers.
• Lawyers, businesses, or community groups that rely on the exact wording of the regulations for advice or paperwork.

If it’s unclear who handles a specific application, the corrected text makes the intended responsible office clearer.

Why it matters#

• It removes ambiguity about which office issues registration certificates for restricted and prohibited handguns. That matters if you need to know where to send an application or who has the authority to issue a certificate.
• Clear wording helps avoid administrative mistakes or delays when transferring or registering handguns.
• The change appears to be a routine correction to the written record rather than a new substantive policy.