Firearms Classification Record-Keeping Simplified

The Regulations Repealing the Firearms Records Regulations (Classification) (SOR/2024-276) reflects the Canadian government’s decision to remove specific record-keeping requirements under the Firearms Act. The repeal is based on the determination by the Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness that these regulations were redundant and had no substantive impact on the classification of firearms in Canada. The now-repealed Firearms Records Regulations (Classification) were initially introduced in 2014 to mandate the Registrar of Firearms to maintain records of firearms classification determinations and to restrict the amendment or destruction of these records within specified timeframes. However, these provisions were deemed unnecessary given the existing legal framework governing firearms classification and record-keeping.
Under Canadian law, firearms are classified into three categories—non-restricted, restricted, and prohibited—according to subsection 84(1) of the Criminal Code. The Firearms Act establishes the roles and responsibilities of the Commissioner of Firearms, the Registrar of Firearms, and Chief Firearms Officers in administering firearms regulations. The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) Canadian Firearms Program (CFP) provides technical expertise and maintains the Firearms Reference Table (FRT), an administrative database that records the CFP’s assessments of firearms classifications. These assessments, which may be amended based on new information or regulatory changes, support law enforcement and regulatory bodies in the appropriate handling of firearms.
The 2014 regulations were partly a response to reclassifications of specific firearms models, such as the CZ858 and Swiss Arms rifles, whose classifications were updated from non-restricted or restricted to prohibited following the discovery of incomplete technical information. While the intent of the regulations was to ensure the integrity of firearms classification records, their practical impact was negligible. Classification decisions are guided by the Criminal Code and its regulations, and records are maintained in the FRT under existing legal authorities.
The decision to repeal these regulations reflects the government’s recognition that they did not influence the administration or classification of firearms in Canada. No records were created or maintained specifically due to the repealed provisions, and the regulatory framework functioned effectively without them. By repealing the regulations, the government eliminates unnecessary administrative requirements, aligning the legal framework with actual practices while maintaining the effectiveness of firearms regulation.
This repeal is a procedural adjustment with no impact on public safety or the management of firearms in Canada, as the mechanisms for classification, record-keeping, and enforcement remain robust under the existing provisions of the Criminal Code and the Firearms Act.
Canada (SOR/2024-276) January 1, 2025