Any substantive changes in this Legislative Summary that have been made since the preceding issue are indicated in bold print.
Bill C-42: An Act to amend the Firearms Act and the Criminal Code and to make a related amendment and a consequential amendment to other Acts (short title: Common Sense Firearms Licensing Act) was introduced in the House of Commons on 7 October 2014 by the Honourable Steven Blaney, Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness.
In 1995, Parliament passed the Firearms Act,1 most of which came into force in December 1998. The Act and its accompanying regulations govern the possession, transportation, transfer and storage of firearms. The Firearms Act is also a complement to Part III of the Criminal Code,2 “Firearms and other Weapons,” which lists and defines the categories of firearms and contains firearms offences related to unlawful possession or misuse.
In 2000, the Supreme Court of Canada examined questions concerning the constitutional validity of the licensing and registration provisions introduced by the Firearms Act. In its Reference re Firearms Act (Can.) decision upholding the Act, the Court found that the Act “is directed to enhancing public safety by controlling access to firearms through prohibitions and penalties.” 3 In short, the regime endeavours to deter and reduce the misuse of firearms.4
Bill C-42 amends both the Firearms Act and the Code. Generally, the bill:
Firearms are broken down into three categories: prohibited firearms, restricted firearms or firearms that are neither prohibited nor restricted, commonly referred to as “non-restricted” firearms. The prohibited firearms category includes automatic firearms, smaller concealable handguns and sawed-off rifles. The restricted firearms category includes handguns that are not prohibited firearms and semi-automatic rifles. Although not currently defined in the Code, “non-restricted firearm” is a term used to describe ordinary hunting rifles and shotguns that have not been modified.5
A firearm’s classification is determined by comparing its type and attributes with the criteria provided in the Code and corresponding regulations. Its classification is validated by certified verifiers coordinated through the Royal Canadian Mounted Police Canadian Firearms Program. In some instances, a firearm will initially be classified pursuant to the information provided by its manufacturer or importer, prior to importation. However, upon inspection, it may be determined that the information initially provided was inaccurate or that the design of the firearm has changed from that of the initial shipment, resulting in different classification.6
Section 84 of the Code defines the first two categories, prohibited and restricted firearms, as follows:
Clause 18 of Bill C-42 adds a definition of non-restricted firearm to section 84 of the Code, defining the term to mean:
As with restricted and prohibited firearms, the new definition of non-restricted firearms provides that firearms may be designated as falling within that category of firearms through regulations made by the Governor in Council (i.e., Cabinet).
Section 117.15(1) of the Code currently gives the Governor in Council the power to make regulations in relation to anything that may be prescribed under Part III of the Code, such as adding prohibited and restricted firearms to those that are already described in the definitions of “prohibited firearm” and “restricted firearm” in section 84 of the Code. However, section 117.15(2) of the Code limits those powers:
In making regulations, the Governor in Council may not prescribe anything to be a prohibited firearm, a restricted firearm, a prohibited weapon, a restricted weapon, a prohibited device or prohibited ammunition if, in the opinion of the Governor in Council, the thing to be prescribed is reasonable for use in Canada for hunting or sporting purposes.
Bill C-42 grants the Governor in Council the authority to override the firearms classifications definitions in section 84 of the Code by way of regulations carving out exceptions. This means that firearms that would otherwise be captured by the definitions of prohibited and restricted firearms could be deemed to be non-restricted firearms (new section 117.15(3) of the Code). Similarly, the Governor in Council could deem firearms that would otherwise be prohibited firearms to be restricted firearms (new section 117.15(4) of the Code). Section 117.15(2) of the Code, which limits the Governor in Council’s powers, is not modified by the provisions in Bill C-42. Therefore, the Governor in Council would not be empowered to reclassify ordinary hunting rifles and shotguns to the restricted or prohibited category.
Bill C-42 makes amendments to several of the Code provisions relating to firearms possession, trafficking and export and import offences, offences relating to lost, found, stolen or destroyed firearms and the warrantless seizure of firearms that are technical in nature. These amendments substitute the more general term “firearm” 7 for a listing of the three categories under which firearms are classified in the Code, namely, prohibited, restricted and non-restricted firearms. These amendments do not appear to modify the purpose of the provisions.8
Court orders prohibiting the possession of firearms, weapons and other articles, including ammunition and explosive substances, are mandatory when a person has been convicted or granted a discharge (section 730 of the Code):
A lifetime prohibition applies for prohibited firearms, restricted firearms, prohibited weapons, prohibited devices and prohibited ammunition. For other firearms, restricted weapons, cross-bows, ammunition and explosive substances, a 10-year prohibition applies for a first offence and a lifetime prohibition applies for second and subsequent offences.
Currently, one of the situations in which a mandatory prohibition order under section 109 applies is when a person is convicted of or granted a discharge for an indictable offence involving the use, attempted use or threats of violence against a person and for which the offender may be sentenced to imprisonment for 10 years or more (section 109(1)(a) of the Code). Bill C-42 adds that a mandatory prohibition order would apply, regardless of the possible sentence, when violence was used, threatened or attempted against the offender’s current or former intimate partner, the child or parent of the offender or the offender’s current or former intimate partner, or any person who resides with such a person (new section 109(1)(a.1) of the Code). “Intimate partner” is defined to include a spouse, a common-law partner and a dating partner (new section 110.1 of the Code).
The discretionary prohibition order provision in section 110 of the Code applies when a person has been convicted or granted a discharge in relation to the following:
Under section 110, a sentencing court has the discretion to impose a prohibition against the possession of firearms, weapons and other articles such as ammunition and explosive substances when it considers that such an order is in the interests of the safety of the offender or any other person. Unlike the mandatory section 109 prohibition orders, discretionary section 110 orders are not blanket orders applying to all firearms, weapons, cross-bows, ammunition or explosive substances; they may prohibit a person from possessing any or all such specified articles.
Discretionary prohibition orders have a maximum length of 10 years, calculated from the date of conviction or discharge, or the date on which the person was released from imprisonment. Bill C-42 extends the maximum length of section 110 discretionary prohibition orders if, in the commission of the offence, violence was used, threatened or attempted against the offender’s current or former intimate partner, the child or parent of the offender or the offender’s current or former intimate partner, or any person who resides with such a person. Bill C-42 provides that in such circumstances, the prohibition orders may be imposed for life or for any shorter period (new section 110(2.1) of the Code). As is the case for section 109, for the purpose of section 110, “intimate partner” is defined to include a spouse, a common-law partner and a dating partner (new section 110.1 of the Code).
Licensing requirements under the Firearms Act depend on the firearm’s classification, and it is the firearm licence that sets out the class of firearms for which it is valid (i.e., prohibited, restricted or firearms that are neither prohibited nor restricted). One must hold a valid firearms licence in order to lawfully possess or acquire a firearm and buy ammunition. Generally speaking, a licence that is issued to an individual 18 years of age or older expires after five years and then needs to be renewed.
Section 7 of the Firearms Act prescribes the safety training and testing required in order to obtain a licence, as well as the circumstances under which a person may be exempt from those requirements. As a general rule, applicants for a Possession and Acquisition Licence (PAL), the only licence currently available to new applicants, must have passed the Canadian Firearms Safety Course.
Section 7(1) deals with individuals seeking to acquire a licence for non-restricted firearms. Currently, in order to obtain such a licence, an individual must meet one of the following conditions:
Section 7(2) deals with individuals seeking to acquire a licence for restricted and prohibited firearms. In order to obtain such a licence, an individual must currently meet one of the following conditions:
Bill C-42 amends sections 7(1)(b) and 7(2)(b), which currently allow licences to be obtained after passing the applicable test without having successfully completed the required safety course. Under Bill C-42, this option is available only to applicants who have passed the required test before the date on which the new provisions come into force. In other words, the option of obtaining a licence by passing the test without having successfully completed the required safety course is no longer available to new applicants - instead, they are required to successfully complete a firearms safety training course.
The second type of firearms licence, a Possession Only Licence (POL), allows no new firearm acquisition privileges. It is issued under sections 6 to 8 of the Firearms Licences Regulations 10 to persons who meet the requirements in section 7(4)(c) of the Firearms Act, namely, that they lawfully possessed a firearm when the Act came into force and do not intend to acquire any new firearms.
The requirements for a POL are less strict than those for a PAL, in that the individual is not required to pass the safety training course and testing requirements found within sections 7(1) and 7(2) of the Firearms Act. According to the Annotated Firearms Act and Related Legislation,
the apparent rationale behind the creation of POLs was that, having been in lawful possession of firearms for a significant period of time, and seeking to acquire no additional firearms, these individuals had demonstrated a history of safe and responsible firearms ownership with the only firearm they would continue to be allowed to possess under the non-acquisition licence. 11
Clause 4 of Bill C-42 repeals section 7(4)(c) of the Firearms Act, which contains the safety training and testing exemption applying to POL licensees. As a result, it will no longer be possible to obtain a POL.
However, clause 4 of the bill also modifies sections 7(1) (eligibility to hold a non-restricted firearms licence) and 7(2) (eligibility to hold a prohibited and restricted firearms licence), thereby allowing existing POLs to be converted to PALs. The bill adds the following wording to one of the situations in which an individual may obtain a licence: “on the commencement day, was an individual referred to in paragraph 7(4)(c) as it read immediately before that day and held a licence.” The amendments would thus allow an individual to obtain a licence under sections 7(1) or 7(2) of the Firearms Act if, at the time of proclamation of the new provisions, he or she held a licence, possessed one or more firearms at the time of proclamation of the Firearms Act (1998) and did not require a licence to acquire other firearms.
Section 19 of the Firearms Act currently sets out the circumstances under which a Chief Firearms Officer (CFO) may grant an authorization to transport prohibited and restricted firearms between two or more specified places as follows:
Section 19 is amended by clause 6 of the bill to provide for automatic authorizations to transport upon licence renewal. A person who holds a licence to possess prohibited or restricted firearms is therefore authorized to transport them “within [their] province of residence” for the following purposes:
A person in possession of a prohibited or restricted firearm in a province or territory that does not have a port of exit is therefore required to apply for an authorization to transport under current section 19(1) of the Firearms Act in order to be authorized to take the firearm to a port of exit or from a port of entry in a province other than “the individual’s province of residence.” 13 The terms “port of exit” and “port of entry” are not defined in the Firearms Act or in Bill C-42.
Currently, an authorization to transport issued by a CFO “may” take the form of a condition attached to a licence (section 61(3) of the Firearms Act).14 Clause 13 of Bill C-42 amends section 61 in order to prescribe that an authorization to transport referred to in new sections 19(1.1), 19(2.1) and 19(2.2) “must” (as opposed to “may”) take the form of a condition attached to a licence (new section 61(3.1) of the Firearms Act).
CFOs exercise their discretion in the determination of the applicant’s eligibility to obtain a firearms licence. They decide whether to issue, renew or revoke licences and authorizations to transport, carry and transfer firearms. Moreover, in issuing a licence, an authorization to carry or an authorization to transport, a CFO may attach any reasonable condition to the licence or authorization that he or she considers desirable in the particular circumstances and in the interests of the safety of the holder or any other person (section 58(1) of the Firearms Act). Under Bill C-42, the discretion of CFOs to attach such conditions is subject to limits imposed by regulations (new section 58(1.1) of the Firearms Act).
Under section 64(1) of the Firearms Act, a licence issued to an individual who is over the age of 18 expires on the earlier of five years after the next birthday of the holder following the issuance of the licence, or the termination of the period for which it is issued. Subject to limited exceptions,15 the possession of firearms without a licence (and a registration certificate for prohibited and restricted firearms) constitutes an offence under section 91(1) of the Code. Bill C-42 creates a grace period extending the validity of a firearms licence for six months beginning on the day that the licence would otherwise have expired (new section 64(1.1) of the Firearms Act).
Licences that are extended as a result of the new grace period are subject to limitations:
New section 42.2 of the Firearms Act imposes an obligation on businesses importing a prohibited or restricted firearm to complete a prescribed form and submit it to the Registrar of Firearms before the importation and to a customs officer before or at the time of the importation. The Registrar and a customs officer may provide each other with any form or information received through this process (clause 10). Under new section 83(1)(d.1) of the Firearms Act, the information provided to the Registrar under section 42.2 is to be kept in the Canadian Firearms Registry (clause 15).
Bill C-42 makes a related amendment to section 107(5) of the Customs Act 16 to allow federally or provincially appointed public servants to provide customs information to other federally or provincially appointed public servants for the sole purpose of the administration or enforcement of the Firearms Act (new section 107(5)(k.1) of the Customs Act).
* Notice: For clarity of exposition, the legislative proposals set out in the bill described in this Legislative Summary are stated as if they had already been adopted or were in force. It is important to note, however, that bills may be amended during their consideration by the House of Commons and Senate, and have no force or effect unless and until they are passed by both houses of Parliament, receive Royal Assent, and come into force. [ Return to text ]
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