Royal Assent of legislation; strengthening gun laws to keep communities safe

This legislation complements the Government of Canada’s investments of $214 million over five years for community-level prevention and enforcement efforts, and $86 million over five years for the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and the Canada Border Services Agency to enhance firearms investigations and combat gun smuggling across the border.

Quotes

“These common-sense gun laws prioritize public safety and effective police work while being fair to legitimate, law-abiding firearms owners and businesses. Together with major new investments in enforcement and prevention, our government is taking comprehensive action to combat rising gun violence and keep Canadians safe.”

- The Honourable Ralph Goodale, Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness

“Although Canada is one of the safest countries in the world, we cannot ignore the increase in gun violence. Canadians have expressed legitimate concern about the increase in gun violence in their communities. This legislation is a measured and appropriate response to help keep communities safe.”

- The Honourable Bill Blair, Minister of Border Security and Organized Crime Reduction

Quick facts

• There are three categories of firearms in Canada:
  • Restricted: handguns, certain rifles and semi-automatics;
  • Prohibited: certain handguns, fully automatic rifles, and sawed off rifles; and
  • Non-restricted: standard hunting rifles and shotguns.

  Related products

  • New investments to help end gun and gang violence in Canada
  • Major new federal funding and summit to tackle gun violence and gang activity
  • Firearms Act
  • Backgrounder – Firearms Legislation For Safer Communities
  • Backgrounder – Main changes to firearms legislation

  Associated links

  • Canadian Firearms Program
  • Firearm-related violent crime in Canada
  • Homicide in Canada, 2017
  • Police-reported intimate partner violence in Canada, 2017
  • Police-reported crime statistics in Canada, 2017
  • Firearm-related homicides, by type of firearm, Canada, 1997 to 2017
  • Deaths, by cause, Chapter XX: External causes of morbidity and mortality (V01 to Y89) Table: 13-10-0156-01)

  Contacts

  Scott Bardsley
  Manager of Media and Communications
  Office of the Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness
  613-998-5681
  scott.bardsley@canada.ca

  Marie-Emmanuelle Cadieux
  Senior Communications Advisor
  Office of the Minister of Border Security and Organized Crime Reduction
  emmanuelle.cadieux@canada.ca