Department of Justice

APPOINTMENT OF A USER GROUP ON FIREARMS

OTTAWA, November 23, 1995 -- The Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada, Allan Rock, today announced the appointment of a User Group on Firearms to advise the government on the development and implementation of the new Canadian Firearms Registration System.

The Registration System is to be implemented over a seven-year period. There will be two phases. The licensing phase is scheduled to begin in 1996. Firearms owners will have five years in which to obtain a Firearms Licence. The second stage, beginning in 1998, will require firearms owners to register their firearms by 2003.

The User Group's advice will help to ensure an effective, convenient and efficient system that will reflect the interests and needs of various firearms' users, including recreational and sustenance hunters, police, firearms' dealers, outfitters, competitive and recreational shooters, collectors, firearms' safety instructors, and administrators of the firearms program.

The mandate of the User Group will commence after Royal Assent to Bill C-68 and will continue throughout the implementation period. The User Group on Firearms complements two other committees involved in the design and implementation of the Canadian Firearms Registration System. They include a committee of Chief Firearms Officers from every province and territory, and a federal Steering Committee of representatives from the Department of Justice, Customs, Solicitor General, the RCMP, and other federal agencies.

Attached is a list of the persons appointed to the User Group on Firearms.

Ref.:   Cyrus Reporter         James Hayes
        Minister's Office      Department of Justice
        (613) 992-4621         (613) 957-9628