Vol. 146, No. 9 — April 25, 2012
Registration
SI/2012-28 April 25, 2012
ENDING THE LONG-GUN REGISTRY ACT
Order Fixing April 5, 2012 as the Day on which the Act Comes into Force
P.C. 2012-519 April 5, 2012
His Excellency the Governor General in Council, on the recommendation of the Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness and the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada, pursuant to section 31 of the Ending the Long-gun Registry Act, chapter 6 of the Statutes of Canada, 2012, hereby fixes April 5, 2012, as the day on which that Act comes into force.
EXPLANATORY NOTE
(This note is not part of the Order.)
Proposal
This Order brings into force An Act to amend the Criminal Code and the Firearms Act (Ending the Long-gun Registry Act), which received Royal Assent on April 5, 2012.
Objective
The purpose of this Order is to bring into force the Act in its entirety on April 5, 2012.
Background
The legislation amends the Firearms Act and the Criminal Code to repeal the requirement to register non-restricted firearms and the associated penalty provisions for failing to do so.
The Act also mandates the destruction of all information in the Canadian Firearms Registry pertaining to non-restricted firearms by requiring the Commissioner of Firearms and the Chief Firearms Officer (CFO) for each province to ensure the destruction of all existing records under their control. The Act also clarifies the scheme for the transfer of firearms. While this legislation removes the need to hold a registration certificate for non-restricted firearms (i.e. long-guns), it does not change the requirement for all individuals to
- hold a valid firearms licence in order to acquire and possess a firearm; and
- obtain a registration certificate for restricted and prohibited firearms.
Implications
Funding for the administration of the Canadian Firearms Program is contained in the permanent reference level of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP). The RCMP has estimated overall net savings of up to $2 million per year on an ongoing basis in concert with other firearms program efficiencies. This is in addition to the $10-million reduction, per year, to the annual operating budget for the Canadian Firearms Program when it was transferred to the RCMP.
Consultation
The RCMP and the Department of Justice Canada have been consulted and there are no concerns with having all provisions of the Act come into force on the same day.
Departmental contacts
For more information, please contact
Lyndon Murdock
Director
Firearms and Operational Policing Policy
Public Safety Canada
Ottawa, Ontario
K1A 0P8
Telephone: 613-949-7770
Fax: 613-990-3984
Email: firearms@ps-sp.gc.ca
William Bartlett
Senior Counsel
Criminal Law Policy
Department of Justice
Ottawa, Ontario
K1A 0H8
Telephone: 613-957-4701
Fax: 613-941-9310
Email: william.bartlett@justice.gc.ca