July 23, 2014 North Bay, Ontario Public Safety Canada
Today, the Honourable Steven Blaney, Canada’s Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness, announced the coming-into-force of an expanded Order Declaring an Amnesty Period (2014). This Order will ensure that law-abiding owners of CZ 858 or Swiss Arms family of rifles are now able to fully use their property.
Additionally, the Government of Canada announced its intention to table the Common Sense Firearms Licensing Act, which will:
- Merge the Possession Only License (POL) and the Possession and Acquisition License (PAL);
- Restrict the ability of Chief Firearms Officers to make arbitrary decisions;
- Create a grace period at the end of the five-year licence to stop people from immediately becoming criminalized for paperwork errors;
- End needless paperwork around Authorizations to Transport by making them a condition of a license;
- Require mandatory firearms safety courses for first-time gun owners; and
- Strengthen firearms prohibitions for those who are convicted of domestic violence offences.
Quick Facts
- The amnesty for law-abiding owners of the CZ 858 or Swiss Arms family of rifles will expire on March 14, 2016.
- The Order Declaring an Amnesty Period (2014) will allow owners of the impacted firearms to use their property.
- Intended amendments to the Firearms Act and Criminal Code would streamline licensing and eliminate red tape for law-abiding firearms owners.
Quotes
“The changes proposed by the Harper Government strike a balance between the need to remove administrative burdens on legal, law-abiding firearms owners in Canada, and government’s intention to protect and enhance public safety. In our opinion, they have succeeded on both counts.”
– Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters
Contacts
Jason Tamming
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness
613-991-2924
