An Introduction to Canada's Firearms Law for the Aboriginal Peoples of
Canada
Questions and Answers about the Firearms Act,
Regulations and Support Material
Third Printing - March 2002
Notice
The information contained in these Q's & A's is considered accurate
the date of publication. The information has not been updated to reflect
any changes to the Firearms Act and related regulations.
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- General Information
- Getting A Firearms Licence
- Canadian Firearms Safety Course (CFSC)
- Registering Your Firearms
- Storing And Transporting Firearms
- Lending Your Firearms To Others
- Transferring Your Firearms To Others
- Importing And Exporting Firearms
- Other Issues
- Conclusion
Charts
- Possession-Only Licence
- Possession And Acquisition Licence
- Possession Licence For Minors
Note: This booklet contains information about the federal firearms law.
Municipal and provincial or territorial regulations may also apply.
Q: When does the new law come into effect?
- While the Firearms Act and Regulations are being phased in between
December 1, 1998 and January 1, 2003, important provisions are in effect
now. As of January 1, 2001, if you own firearms, you need a firearms licence.
You will also need to register your firearms by January 1, 2003.
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Q: Who is affected?
- The Firearms Act and Regulations apply to all individuals and businesses
that own, want to get, or use firearms in Canada.
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Q: As a member of one of the Aboriginal Peoples of Canada, how does this new
law affect me?
- You need to get a firearms licence and register all of your firearms. You
also need to safely handle, store, display and transport your firearms, and
follow certain rules when you import guns into Canada and/or export them.
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Q: Does the new law take into account the needs of Aboriginal peoples?
- Yes. The Aboriginal Peoples of Canada Adaptations Regulations (Firearms)
adapt the way the licensing requirements apply to Aboriginal people who
participate in the traditional hunting practices of their communities.
The firearms storage, handling and transportation regulations also reflect
the needs of people who live in the northern or more remote regions of Canada.
[Top]
See the charts at the end of this booklet for detailed information on
licences, application requirements and fees.
Q: What should I know about firearms licences?
- Under the Firearms Act, individuals must obtain a licence to possess,
acquire, or use a firearm. There are several types of firearms licences:
. Possession-only licence for adults;
(Please note that as of January 1, 2001, possession-only licences are no
longer available to new applicants.)
. Possession and acquisition licence for adults
(application form JUS 888);
. Possession licence for minors (application form JUS 671);
. Confirmed Non-Resident Firearm Declaration for visitors to Canada who
import firearms (application form JUS 909); and
. Temporary Firearms Borrowing licence for visitors to Canada
(application form JUS 715).
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Q: When should I get my firearms licence?
- As of January 1, 2001, you must have a firearms licence which allows you
to possess your firearms. Since possession-only licences are no longer
available to new applicants, a new applicant needs to apply for a possession
and acquisition licence.
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Q: I have a Firearms Acquisition Certificate (FAC). Is it still good?
- A valid FAC serves as a licence until it expires. You should apply for a
possession and acquisition licence a few months before your FAC expires so
you will receive your new licence before your FAC expires.
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Q: Is my firearms licence good for all kinds of guns?
- Your firearms licence will identify which class or classes of firearms you
may have in your possession. There are three classes of firearms:
. non-restricted (most hunting rifles and shotguns);
. restricted (primarily handguns); and
. prohibited (categories include automatic and converted automatic
firearms, handguns with barrels 105mm or less, 25 or 32 calibre handguns, and
other firearms prohibited by the Criminal Code and its Regulations).
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Q: Do I need a firearms licence to buy ammunition?
- If you are getting ammunition from the government in fulfillment of a
treaty obligation, you do not need a firearms licence to receive it.
To get ammunition from any other source, however, adults need a valid
Firearms Acquisition Certificate (FAC) or a valid firearms licence.
Minors (under 18 years of age) need a valid minor's possession licence to
buy ammunition.
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Q: Once I have my firearms licence, do I have to renew it?
- Yes. Adult firearms licences must be renewed every five years. The expiry
date will be set out on your licence. A notice reminding you to renew your
licence will be sent to you before the expiry date.
Renewal fees will be either:
. $60 for all possession-only licences and for possession and acquisition
licences for non-restricted firearms; or
. $80 for possession and acquisition licences for restricted and/or
prohibited firearms.
A minor's licence will also show the date by which it must be renewed.
The fee will depend on the term of the licence ($10 for up to 1 year, $20 for
up to two years, and $30 for over two years). When a young person turns 18
years of age, he or she must get an adult firearms licence before using or
acquiring firearms.
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Q: Do I also need a firearms licence if I have a hunting licence?
- Yes. These are two different kinds of licences. A firearms licence permits
you to possess, acquire or use firearms throughout Canada, whereas a hunting
licence permits you to hunt in your province or territory.
Some provinces and territories do not require Aboriginal people to have a
hunting licence. You must still, however, have a firearms licence. For more
information, contact your provincial or territorial Chief Firearms Officer
(CFO) by calling 1 800 731-4000. An operator will transfer your
call.
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Q: What accommodations exist for Aboriginal people applying for a firearms
licence?
- The Aboriginal Peoples of Canada Adaptations Regulations (Firearms) were
developed to help ensure that the new firearms law is implemented in a
manner that respects the traditional lifestyles of Aboriginal Peoples and
the Aboriginal and treaty rights recognized and affirmed by s. 35 of the
Constitution Act, 1982. The Aboriginal Peoples of Canada Adaptations
Regulations (Firearms) set out particular factors that the Chief Firearms
Officer (CFO) of your province or territory must consider when evaluating
and processing your licence application.
If you want these Regulations to apply to your licence application, you
must complete Schedule A, the Aboriginal Peoples of Canada Adaptations
Regulations (Firearms) Declaration and Confirmation. If applicable, you may
also want to complete Schedule B and Schedule C.
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Q: What are Schedules A, B and C?
- Schedule A is a separate declaration that you can include with your
licence application form. By completing it, you are declaring that you:
. are a member of one of the Aboriginal Peoples of Canada (this includes
Indian, Inuit, Métis and beneficiaries under a land claims agreement referred
to in section 35 of the Constitution Act, 1982); and
. are a member of an Aboriginal community (a traditional collectivity of
Aboriginal people which has a distinctive culture that includes engaging in
traditional hunting practices); and
. engage in the traditional hunting practices of your Aboriginal
community.
Schedule A also contains a section to be signed by an Elder or leader of
your Aboriginal community in which the Elder or leader confirms what you have
declared.
Schedule B is a declaration form concerning the importance to you of
participating in the traditional hunting practices of your community. The form
is to be signed by an Elder or leader of your community.
Schedule C is an application for alternative safety training certification.
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Q: How do I know if I should rely on the provisions of the Aboriginal
Peoples of Canada Adaptations Regulations (Firearms) when applying for my
firearms licence?
- If your answer to one or more of the following questions is
"yes", you should consider applying for your licence under the
Aboriginal Peoples of Canada Adaptations Regulations (Firearms) and
completing Schedule A.
. When making your licence application:
. do you need to make oral, as opposed to written, statements?
. do you need to use an interpreter to help you because you do not
speak English or French?
. Do you take part in the traditional hunting practices of your
community, but expect that your application for a licence might be refused or
have conditions attached to it (on the basis of public safety concerns)?
. Are you an Elder applying for alternative safety training certification
without taking the Canadian Firearms Safety Course?
. Are you an adult (but not an Elder) applying for alternative safety
training certification without taking the Canadian Firearms Safety Course
because:
. the Course is not available to you within a reasonable time, or
. at a reasonable location, or
. at a reasonable cost?
. Do you take part in the traditional hunting practices of your
community, but you are under 12 years of age?
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Q: I hunt to provide sustenance for my family. Do I need to get a licence?
- Yes. You must get a firearms licence. Individuals who require
non-restricted firearms to hunt or trap in order to sustain themselves or
their families do not have to pay the licence fee for rifles and shotguns.
To find out if you qualify as a sustenance hunter, you should contact your
provincial or territorial Chief Firearms Officer (CFO) at
1 800 731-4000.
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Q: My son is 10 years old and takes part in the traditional hunting
practices of our Aboriginal community. Can he get a licence?
- Yes. The Aboriginal Peoples of Canada Adaptations Regulations (Firearms)
state that an Aboriginal youth less than 12 years old is eligible to have a
minor's possession licence. As with minors aged 12 to 17, the parent or
the person who has custody of the applicant must give consent and, in most
cases, there are conditions (which may include supervision) attached to the
minor's licence. The applicant, and/or the parent or the person who has
custody of the applicant, will be interviewed by a firearms officer.
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Q: I have relatives who often visit from the United States. When they are
here, they borrow our hunting rifles and shotguns. Does this new law affect them
too?
- Yes. Beginning January 1, 2001, the Firearms Act requires visitors to
apply for a licence permitting them to borrow firearms while they are in
Canada. The application form for a temporary borrowing licence for
non-residents is JUS 715. For more information, call
1 800 731-4000.
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Q: Can my American friend get a Canadian firearms licence?
- Yes. Anyone who visits Canada can apply for a Canadian possession and
acquisition licence. For more information, or to get a licence application
form, your friend can call 1 800 731-4000 from anywhere in Canada
or the United States.
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Q: Does everyone have to take the Canadian Firearms Safety Course (CFSC) in
order to get a possession and acquisition licence? Do minors who are applying
for a minor's possession licence have to take the Canadian Firearms Safety
Course (CFSC)?
- Passing the Canadian Firearms Safety Course (CFSC) test is a general
requirement for obtaining a possession and acquisition licence and it is
recommended that licence applicants take the Course. Taking the Course,
however, may not always be possible or necessary. Some options are
available:
. You can just take the test, without taking the Course; or
. You can apply to your provincial or territorial Chief Firearms Officer
(CFO) for alternative safety training certification. If you are alternatively
certified, you do not need to pass the CFSC test.
. You may be alternatively certified if you have owned a firearm since
1979. To be alternatively certified by your CFO, you need to demonstrate an
understanding and knowledge of firearms laws and how to safely use,
transport and store firearms, or
. You may be alternatively certified under the Aboriginal Peoples of
Canada Adaptations Regulations (Firearms). Under these regulations, you need
to provide a recommendation from an elder or leader of your community
indicating you have the necessary firearms knowledge and the Course is not
available within a reasonable time, at a reasonable cost or at a reasonable
location.
If you are not alternatively certified, you need to pass the CFSC test in
order to apply for a possession and acquisition licence;
. Minors (except sustenance hunters) who are applying for a minor's
possession licence must take the Course and pass the test.
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Q: Does an Elder who has hunted all of his or her life have to take the
Canadian Firearms Safety Course (CFSC)?
- An Aboriginal Elder is eligible for alternative safety training
certification without taking the Course as long as he or she can show a
basic understanding of:
. how to safely store, display, handle, transport and use firearms;
. how common hunting firearms operate; and
. the laws relating to firearms.
Your provincial or territorial Chief Firearms Officer (CFO) (or delegate)
must certify that the Elder has the knowledge required to be excused from the
Course. For more information about alternative safety training certification,
you can call your CFO at 1 800 731-4000.
[Top]
Q: I need to buy a new gun for hunting this fall and they tell me I must
take the Canadian Firearms Safety Course (CFSC) before I can get my licence. But
I live in a remote community where the Course is not available. What can I do?
- The Aboriginal Peoples of Canada Adaptations Regulations (Firearms) state
that in circumstances where the Canadian Firearms Safety Course (CFSC) is
not available to you within a reasonable time, at a reasonable location or a
reasonable cost, you may be eligible for alternative safety training
certification. You will need to provide a recommendation from an Elder or
leader of your community indicating that you understand the firearms laws
and know how to safely use and handle firearms.
Before your Chief Firearms Officer (CFO) will give you this certification,
he or she needs to be sure that you have a basic understanding of:
. how to safely use, store, handle, transport and display firearms
(minors under 18 years of age are not required to know how to safely display
firearms);
. how common hunting firearms operate; and
. the laws relating to firearms.
For more information, you can call your CFO.
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Q: If I have already passed the test for the Canadian Firearms Safety Course
(CFSC), do I have to do it again?
- If you have already passed the Canadian Firearms Safety Course (CFSC)
test, then you do not have to do it again. However, if you have been
prohibited from possessing firearms since you passed the test, you must
complete the Course and pass the test again before applying or re-applying
for a firearms licence. You will only be able to apply for a licence after
the prohibition has been lifted.
[Top]
Q: I took a firearms safety course a few years ago but it wasn't the
Canadian Firearms Safety Course (CFSC). Would this other course be acceptable?
- Contact the Chief Firearms Officer (CFO) of your province or territory to
find out if the course you took is acceptable. You can reach your CFO by
calling 1 800 731-4000.
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Q: Can I take the Canadian Firearms Safety Course (CFSC) and test orally in
my Aboriginal language?
- Testing in your aboriginal language may be possible. For more information,
contact a Course instructor or call the Chief Firearms Officer (CFO) of your
province or territory to see what options are available in your area.
[Top]
Q: I Hear That The Canadian Firarms Safety Course (CFSC) has changed. How do
the changes affect me?
- The Canadian Firearms Safety Course (CFSC) has changed to reflect the new
law and regulations. The former Course has been divided into two Courses.
One Course deals with non-restricted firearms safety; the other focuses on
restricted firearms safety.
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Q: I want to take the Canadian Firearms Safety Course (CFSC). Where do I get
information about it?
- Each province or territory has a Canadian Firearms Safety Course (CFSC)
Training Coordinator who can give you information about where Courses are
held and who teaches the Course in your community or region. Contact us at
1 800 731-4000 for the name and phone number of your CFSC Training
Coordinator.
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Q: I have heard all kinds of rumours about what it costs to register my
hunting rifle. How much does it cost?
- There is a bulk fee for the registration of rifles and shotguns, whether
you have one gun or several. The fee is $18 until December 31, 2002. You can
register all your rifles and shotguns at one time, on the same application,
for the $18 fee.
A specific transfer process now applies to each additional firearm you
acquire. After December 31, 2002, a transfer processing fee of $25 will be
charged for each firearm you acquire. As part of the transfer process and fee,
each firearm you acquire will be registered to you.
[Top]
Q: What does the law say about registering my firearms?
- The Criminal Code requires all firearms owned on December 1, 1998, to be
registered by January 1, 2003. Since December 1, 1998:
. individuals must register all firearms that they acquire (buy, inherit,
receive as a gift or in trade);
. firearms must be registered at the time they are acquired; and
. all imported firearms must be registered when they enter Canada.
You must be 18 years of age or older to register a firearm. After January
1, 2003, any firearm used by a minor (under 18 years of age) must be
registered to an adult.
[Top]
Q: Do I have to register my hunting rifles and shotguns?
- Yes. All of your rifles and shotguns must be registered by January 1,
2003. You will get a registration certificate for each firearm. If you lend
your firearm to someone else, you must also lend the registration
certificate for that firearm (unless the borrower is a sustenance hunter).
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Q: Do I need to register my ammunition?
- There is no requirement to register ammunition, nor is there any limit
imposed by the federal government on the amount of ammunition (other than
gunpowder) that you can buy.
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Q: How do I go about registering my firearms?
- Before a firearm can be registered, you must have either a valid firearms
licence or a valid Firearms Acquisition Certificate (FAC). Your licence must
show that you are entitled to possess or acquire the class of firearm being
registered (non-restricted, restricted or prohibited).
In your application to register your firearms, you need to give information
about each firearm that is being registered, including make and serial number.
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Q: Do I have to renew my registration certificate in the same way that I
have to renew my firearms licence?
- No. The registration certificate is good for as long as you own the
firearm, unless the firearm is modified so it changes class (i.e., from
non-restricted to restricted). When you transfer a firearm (sell, barter,
give away), a new registration certificate will be issued by the Canadian
Firearms Registry to the new owner of the firearm.
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Q: I hunt to provide sustenance for my family. Do I still have to pay the
registration fee?
- Sustenance hunters do not have to pay to register their rifles and
shotguns. To find out if you qualify as a sustenance hunter, call the office
of the Chief Firearms Officer (CFO) of your province or territory.
[Top]
Q: What about my restricted firearms?
- If you own restricted firearms, you already have their registration
certificates (as required under the old firearms law). You must re-register
these firearms to confirm that the registration information is complete and
up-to-date. Call 1 800 731-4000 for a re-registration application
form. New certificates will be issued to you free of charge.
[Top]
Q: What is a firearm identification number and what do I do with it?
- Every registration certificate has a firearm identification number (FIN).
If your firearm:
. doesn't have a serial number; or
. has a serial number that, even after taking into consideration the
other characteristics of the firearm, still doesn't distinguish it from
every other firearm, you must put the FIN on the frame or receiver of the
firearm. The Registrar will tell you if, and how (sticker, stamp or engrave),
you must place the FIN on the firearm.
If your firearm has a serial number that distinguishes it from every other
firearm, you won't have to put the FIN on the firearm.
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Q: Does the Firearms Act allow police to search my house without a warrant
just because I have a registered rifle?
- No. The Firearms Act deals only with inspection powers. Only firearms
officers and other designated classes of people can be inspectors. An
inspector can check your firearms licence, registration certificate(s) and
storage facilities.
Certain restrictions are placed on how inspectors carry out their duties:
- An inspector may only enter and inspect places where he or she has
reasonable grounds to believe that:
. there is a prohibited firearm;
. there are more than 10 firearms of any class;
. there is a firearms business or records of a firearms business or gun
collection; or
. it is a place where a gun collector keeps restricted firearms.
- Inspectors cannot enter and inspect private houses unless they:
. have given reasonable notice; and
. have the occupant's consent to enter; or
. get a warrant from a judge or a justice of the peace.
- Inspectors may only enter and inspect those parts of a private house
where there are reasonable grounds to believe there are firearms, other
weapons, devices or ammunition, or records of a gun collection or a
business.
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Q: I keep only rifles and shotguns that I use for hunting. What do I need to
know about safely storing them?
- Store your non-restricted firearms (rifles and shotguns):
. unloaded; and
. unable to be fired (use a secure locking device such as a trigger lock
or cable lock, remove the bolt or bolt carrier, or lock the firearms in a
secure container or room); and
. in a place where ammunition for the firearms is not easy to obtain
(ammunition may be stored with your firearm in a securely locked container).
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Q: I sometimes store my rifles and shotguns at a hunt camp. Does the law
require that I lock them up?
- It depends. If your hunt camp is in a remote wilderness area, your
firearms need only be unloaded. Otherwise, your guns should be safely stored
as set out above.
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Q: Our community is in an area that has a lot of bears and we often need to
use our guns for protection. Can we keep them loaded and by the door?
- Where it is legal to discharge a firearm, any non-restricted firearm
required for the temporary control of predators or other animals can be kept
handy and unlocked, but it must always be unloaded. Ammunition must not be
stored nearby.
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Q: Is it enough that my rifle or shotgun is unloaded when I take it in my
truck to the hunt camp?
- Yes, as long as you are with your firearm at all times. If you need to
leave your truck, hide the gun from sight and securely lock the part of your
truck, or compartment, that contains your firearm. Check with your Chief
Firearms Officer (CFO) for any provincial or territorial rules that may also
apply.
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Q: Can I transport my rifles and shotguns on an ATV, boat or snowmobile?
- Yes, as long as you are with them at all times and your firearms are
unloaded. If you are in a remote wilderness area, you may leave your rifles
and shotguns unattended on your ATV, boat or snowmobile, but you must cover
them up and lock them with a trigger or cable lock.
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Q: Do I need a special authorization to transport my rifles and shotguns?
- No. You only need an Authorization to Transport (ATT) if you are
transporting restricted (mainly handguns) and prohibited firearms. For more
information, contact your Chief Firearms Officer (CFO).
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Exception
There is an important exception to these general rules. If you are using or
handling your rifle or shotgun in the course of hunting or for controlling
predators or other animals, the general storage and transportation provisions do
not apply, as long as the activity is lawful at the time and place that it is
being carried out. This exception extends to using or handling a rifle or
shotgun in the course of hunting from a vehicle in a given location, as long as
it is lawful for you to be hunting from that vehicle in that location.
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Q: I often lend my hunting guns to members of my family and community. What
do I need to know to continue to do this safely and legally?
- Anytime you lend your gun, you, as the person responsible for the firearm,
should feel comfortable that the borrower will be able to use it safely and
legally. The Firearms Act states that you should never lend your gun to a
person who you believe may have a mental illness making him or her incapable
of using your firearm in a safe and legal manner. It also states that you
should never lend your firearm to a person who you suspect may be impaired
by alcohol or drugs.
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Q: Does the person borrowing my gun need anything?
- The person borrowing your gun needs either a valid firearms licence or a
valid Firearms Acquisition Certificate (FAC). A non-resident visitor needs a
temporary borrowing licence. Otherwise, the borrower must be under your
"direct and immediate supervision", which means that you must be
close enough to prevent him or her from doing anything dangerous or unlawful
with your firearm. As well, the borrower can only use the firearm in the
manner that you are allowed to use it (according to municipal firearm
discharge regulations and provincial or territorial hunting regulations).
The person borrowing your firearm must also borrow the registration
certificate. (If you are lending your firearm to a sustenance hunter, you do not
have to lend him or her the registration certificate.)
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Q: What does it mean to "transfer" a firearm?
- Under the Firearms Act, transfer means to sell, barter or give away your
gun.
Coordinator who can give you information about where Courses are held and who
teaches the Course in your community or region. Contact us at
1 800 731-4000 for the name and phone number of your CFSC Training
Coordinator.
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Q: Can I give, sell or barter my gun to anyone?
- The person receiving your gun must have either a valid possession and
acquisition licence or a valid Firearms Acquisition Certificate (FAC).
You should take the same care when transferring your firearms as you do
when you lend them:
. do not transfer your firearm to anyone that you believe has a mental
illness which makes him or her incapable of using it in a safe and/or legal
manner; and
. do not transfer your firearm to a person who you suspect may be
impaired by alcohol or drugs.
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Q: What is the procedure for bartering, selling or giving away a firearm?
- The Chief Firearms Officer (CFO) of your province or territory must
approve the transfer. Once approved, the firearm will be registered to the
new owner as part of the transfer process.
For instructions on how to transfer a firearm, call
1 800 731-4000.
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As of January 1, 2001, residents of Canada need either a valid Firearms
Acquisition Certificate (FAC) or a valid possession and acquisition licence in
order to import newly acquired firearms into Canada. If you leave Canada
temporarily with a firearm you already own, you need to have a valid licence
(Firearms Acquisition Certificate (FAC), possession and acquisition licence or
possession-only licence) in order to bring the firearm back into Canada.
Visitors who wish to bring firearms into Canada need a valid possession and
acquisition licence or a Non-Resident Firearm Declaration (application form
JUS 909) that will be confirmed by a Customs officer at the point of entry
into Canada.
For more information, call our toll-free number at
1 800 731-4000.
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Q: Where do I get the necessary forms to apply for a firearms licence and to
register my guns?
- Application forms are available from:
. our toll-free Call Centre at 1 800 731-4000;
. our web site at www.cfc-cafc.gc.ca;
. Service Canada locations; and
. some gun dealers.
In some communities, forms may also be available at the band office,
community hall, local stores or from a firearms officer.
Mail your completed application form. Once approved, you will receive your
firearms licence and/or registration certificate(s) in the mail.
[Top]
Q: Where can I get help filling out my licence or registration application
forms?
- If you have questions regarding the application forms, call us at
1 800 731-4000. Our operators are trained to assist people in
completing their forms. You could also contact the firearms officer who
serves your community. If you don't know who that might be, call either
our 1-800 number or your provincial or territorial Chief Firearms Officer
(CFO).
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Q: Who is an Elder?
- Under the Firearms Act Regulations, an Elder is any member of your
Aboriginal community who is recognized and respected for his or her
extensive knowledge of the culture and traditional practices of your
community.
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Q: Who is a sustenance hunter?
- The Chief Firearms Officer (CFO) of your province or territory sets out
the criteria that must be met to qualify as a sustenance hunter. Call
1 800 731-4000 to speak to your CFO.
[Top]
Q: As of January 1, 2001, is it against the law to hunt without a firearms
licence?
- As of January 1, 2001, it is an offence to possess a firearm without a
valid firearms licence or a valid Firearms Acquisition Certificate (FAC),
and after January 1, 2003, it will be an offence to possess a firearm
without a registration certificate.
The only time you won't need either a licence or a registration
certificate is when you are using a firearm under the "direct and
immediate" supervision of a licensed owner or user (as explained earlier
in the section on lending firearms).
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Q: What will happen if I hunt without a firearms licence?
- If you are charged and convicted, depending on the circumstances of your
case, a wide range of penalties are possible (from a discharge to a 10-year
sentence). The law says that your firearms will be seized and you could be
prohibited from owning firearms.
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Q: Our Aboriginal community needs more information.
How do we get it?
- You can call the Canada Firearms Centre at 1 800 731-4000 for:
. help in completing the licence and registration application forms;
. more copies of this booklet; and
. copies of other documents of interest to you.
For more information on how the Firearms Act is administered in your
community, call the office of the Chief Firearms Officer (CFO) of your
province or territory.
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These charts summarize what you need to know about licences and fees:
|
Who and What Is It For? |
Application Requirements |
Fees
|
For qualifying adults (18 years or older) whose applications were
received prior to January 1, 2001.
For Aboriginal applicants who use non-restricted firearms (rifles and
shot-guns) owned by others in their community (communal use).
To possess any class of firearms owned as of December 1, 1998.
To borrow other firearms in the same class. |
Not available after January 1, 2001, except as a renewal.
Possession-only licences must be renewed every five (5) years. |
Renewal fee is $60.
No fee for sustenance hunters (non-restricted firearms only). |
|
Who and What Is It For? |
Application Requirements |
Fees
|
For adults (18 years or older).
To possess currently owned firearms.
To borrow other firearms in the same class.
To acquire non-restricted firearms.
To acquire restricted firearms.
To acquire another prohibited firearm in the same class as a firearm
that is currently owned.
Application process similar to current Firearms Acquisition
Certificate (FAC) process.
|
Applicants who apply under the Aboriginal Peoples of Canada
Adaptations Regulations (Firearms) must complete Schedule A.
Either an employee of the Canada Firearms Centre or a person who
has known the applicant for at least 1 year must sign the back of the
applicant's photo and sign a statement confirming that the photo
accurately identifies the applicant.
Two people (other than a spouse) must sign a statement confirming
that to the best of their knowledge and belief:
. the information in the application is true;
. the applicant poses no known safety concerns; and
. they have known the applicant for at least three years.
The applicant must provide the name, current address and telephone
number of every spouse or common-law partner (who will be notified about
the application) with whom the applicant has lived during the past two
years. If their whereabouts are unknown, the applicant must make a
written statement to that effect. Several types of information,
including the views of spouses or common-law partners, are taken into
consideration by the provincial or territorial Chief Firearms Officers
(CFO's) in determining whether to issue a licence.
Aboriginal applicants who are unable to write in English or French
may give any required statements orally, and if unable to speak English
or French, may have the help of an interpreter.
There is a minimum 28-day waiting period unless the applicant has a
valid Firearms Acquisition Certificate (FAC) or licence.
Applicants must show proof that the Canadian Firearms Safety Course (CFSC)
requirements have been met.
There are additional requirements for restricted and prohibited
firearms.
Possession and acquisition licences must be renewed every five (5)
years.
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$60 for 5 years (non-restricted firearms only).
$80 for 5 years (any combination of non-restricted, restricted and
prohibited firearms).
No fee for sustenance hunters (non-restricted firearms only).
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Who and What Is It For? |
Application Requirements |
Fees |
For young people (12 - 17 yrs).
For sustenance hunters under
18 years. For Aboriginal minors under 12 years who participate in
traditional hunting practices of their own communities.
To possess or use non-restricted firearms only. |
Applicants who apply under the Aboriginal Peoples of Canada
Adaptations Regulations (Firearms) must complete Schedule A.
A parent or guardian must give consent. The applicant, and/or the
parent or the person who has custody of the applicant, will be
interviewed by a firearms officer.
The applicant and a parent or guardian must accept the conditions of
the licence by signing the application form and confirming that the
photo accurately identifies the applicant.
Aboriginal applicants who are unable to write in English or French
may give any required statements orally, and if unable to speak English
or French, may have the help of an interpreter.
Applicants must show that the Canadian Firearms Safety Course (CFSC)
requirements have been met. (This does not apply to sustenance hunters
under 18 years of age.)
A minor's possession licence must be renewed as of the expiry date
on the licence or, where the minor's licence expires because the
individual has attained the age of 18 years, he or she must apply for an
adult licence.
**Minors can possess or use but cannot own or register firearms in
their name** |
$10: 0-1 yr.
$20: 1-2 yrs.
$30: over 2 yrs.
No fee for sustenance hunters (non-restricted firearms only).
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This booklet is not a legal text. For detailed legal information, see
the Firearms Act and Regulations. For more information:
. call toll-free 1 800 731-4000;
. visit the CFC's web site at www.cfc-cafc.gc.ca;
. fax us at (613) 941-1991;
. e-mail the Canada Firearms Centre at: cfc-cafc@cfc-cafc.gc.ca;
or
. contact the Chief Firearms Officer of your province or
territory
This booklet is also available in French and Inuktitut.
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[Top]
March 2002
Canadian Cataloguing in Publication Data
Main entry under title:
An introduction to Canada's firearms law for the
Aboriginal Peoples of Canada: questions and answers
about the Firearms Act, Regulations and support material
Issued also in French under title: Introduction à
lalégislation canadienne sur les armes à feu à l'intention des autochtones
du Canada.
Issued also in Inuktitut.
ISBN 0-662-27427-X
Cat. No. J2-155/1998E
1. Firearms - Law and legislation - Canada.
2. Firearms ownership - Law and legislation - Canada.
I. Canada Firearms Centre.
HV8059.I57 1998 363.3'30971 C98-980005-1
Third Printing - March 2002
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