Firearms Act (S.C. 1995, c. 39)

Marginal note:Revocation of registration certificate

• 71 (1) The Registrar

  • (a) may revoke a registration certificate for a prohibited firearm or a restricted firearm for any good and sufficient reason; and

  • (b) shall revoke a registration certificate for a firearm held by an individual where the Registrar is informed by a chief firearms officer under section 67 that the firearm is not being used for a purpose described in section 28.

• Marginal note:Automatic revocation of registration certificate

  (2) A registration certificate for a prohibited firearm referred to in subsection 12(3) (pre-August 1, 1992 converted automatic firearms) is automatically revoked on the change of any alteration in the prohibited firearm that was described in the application for the registration certificate.

Marginal note:Notice of refusal to issue or revocation

• 72 (1) Subject to subsection (1.1), if a chief firearms officer decides to refuse to issue or to revoke a licence or authorization to transport or the Registrar decides to refuse to issue or to revoke a registration certificate, authorization to export or authorization to import, the chief firearms officer or Registrar shall give notice of the decision in the prescribed form to the applicant for or holder of the licence, registration certificate or authorization.

• Marginal note:When notice not required

  (1.1) Notice under subsection (1) need not be given in any of the following circumstances:

  • (a) if the holder has requested that the licence, registration certificate or authorization be revoked; or

  • (b) if the revocation is incidental to the issuance of a new licence, registration certificate or authorization.

• Marginal note:Material to accompany notice

  (2) A notice given under subsection (1) must include reasons for the decision disclosing the nature of the information relied on for the decision and must be accompanied by a copy of sections 74 to 81.

• Marginal note:Non-disclosure of information

  (3) A chief firearms officer or the Registrar need not disclose any information the disclosure of which could, in the opinion of the chief firearms officer or the Registrar, endanger the safety of any person.

• Marginal note:Disposal of firearms, etc.

  (4) A notice given under subsection (1) in respect of a licence must specify that the applicant for or holder of the licence may deliver to a peace officer or a firearms officer or a chief firearms officer any firearm, prohibited weapon, restricted weapon, prohibited device or prohibited ammunition that the applicant for or holder of the licence possesses within 24 hours or, if that is not possible, within an extended period established by the chief firearms officer. Sections 91, 92 and 94 of the Criminal Code do not apply to the applicant or holder in relation to such a firearm, prohibited weapon, restricted weapon or prohibited device or such prohibited ammunition during that period.

• Marginal note:Disposal of firearms — registration certificate

  (5) A notice given under subsection (1) in respect of a registration certificate for a prohibited firearm or a restricted firearm must specify that the applicant for or holder of the registration certificate may deliver to a peace officer or a firearms officer or a chief firearms officer the firearm to which the registration certificate relates within 24 hours or, if that is not possible, within an extended period established by the chief firearms officer. Sections 91, 92 and 94 of the Criminal Code do not apply to the applicant or holder in relation to such a prohibited firearm or restricted firearm during that period.

• Marginal note:Reference

  (6) If the applicant for or holder of a licence refers the refusal to issue it or revocation of it to a provincial court judge under section 74, they must, within the period referred to in subsection (4), deliver to a peace officer any firearm that they possess. Sections 91, 92 and 94 of the Criminal Code do not apply to the applicant or holder in relation to such a firearm during that period.

• Marginal note:Order — return of firearm

  (7) If the decision of the chief firearms officer is confirmed, the judge may, if a firearm was delivered to a peace officer under subsection (6), order the return of the firearm to the applicant for or holder of the licence, in order for the applicant or holder to lawfully dispose of it.

• Marginal note:Conditions

  (8) When making an order under subsection (7), the judge may impose any conditions that they consider appropriate in the interests of the safety of the applicant for or holder of the licence or any other person, including

  • (a) the time within which and manner in which the firearm is to be returned;

  • (b) the manner in which the applicant or holder is to have access to the firearm during the period beginning with the return of the firearm and ending with its disposal; and

  • (c) the manner in which the firearm is to be disposed of.

• Marginal note:Effect

  (9) An order made under subsection (7) takes effect on

  • (a) the day after the day on which the period for making an appeal has expired, if no appeal is made; or

  • (b) the day on which a final determination is made in respect of the appeal, if an appeal is made and the decision of the chief firearms officer is confirmed.

• Marginal note:If decision confirmed

  (10) If the appeal has been finally determined and the decision of the chief firearms officer is confirmed, the applicant for or holder of the licence must lawfully dispose of a firearm that was delivered to a peace officer under subsection (6) within 30 days after the day on which the firearm is returned to them. Sections 91, 92 and 94 of the Criminal Code do not apply to the applicant or holder in relation to such a firearm during that 30-day period.

73 [Repealed, 2003, c. 8, s. 46]

References to Provincial Court Judge

Marginal note:Reference to judge of refusal to issue or revocation, etc.

• 74 (1) Subject to subsection (2), where

  • (a) a chief firearms officer or the Registrar refuses to issue or revokes a licence, registration certificate, authorization to transport, authorization to export or authorization to import,

  • (b) a chief firearms officer decides under section 67 that a firearm possessed by an individual who holds a licence is not being used for a purpose described in section 28, or

  • (c) a provincial minister refuses to approve or revokes the approval of a shooting club or shooting range for the purposes of this Act,

  the applicant for or holder of the licence, registration certificate, authorization or approval may refer the matter to a provincial court judge in the territorial division in which the applicant or holder resides.

• Marginal note:Limitation period

  (2) An applicant or holder may only refer a matter to a provincial court judge under subsection (1) within thirty days after receiving notice of the decision of the chief firearms officer, Registrar or provincial minister under section 29, 67 or 72 or within such further time as is allowed by a provincial court judge, whether before or after the expiration of those thirty days.

Marginal note:Hearing of reference

• 75 (1) On receipt of a reference under section 74, the provincial court judge shall fix a date for the hearing of the reference and direct that notice of the hearing be given to the chief firearms officer, Registrar or provincial minister and to the applicant for or holder of the licence, registration certificate, authorization or approval, in such manner as the provincial court judge may specify.

• Marginal note:Evidence

  (2) At the hearing of the reference, the provincial court judge shall hear all relevant evidence presented by or on behalf of the chief firearms officer, Registrar or provincial minister and the applicant or holder.

• Marginal note:Burden of proof

  (3) At the hearing of the reference, the burden of proof is on the applicant or holder to satisfy the provincial court judge that the refusal to issue or revocation of the licence, registration certificate or authorization, the decision or the refusal to approve or revocation of the approval was not justified.

• Marginal note:Where hearing may proceed ex parte

  (4) A provincial court judge may proceed ex parte to hear and determine a reference in the absence of the applicant or holder in the same circumstances as those in which a summary conviction court may, under Part XXVII of the Criminal Code, proceed with a trial in the absence of the defendant.

Marginal note:Decision by provincial court judge

76 On the hearing of a reference, the provincial court judge may, by order,

• (a) confirm the decision of the chief firearms officer, Registrar or provincial minister;

• (b) direct the chief firearms officer or Registrar to issue a licence, registration certificate or authorization or direct the provincial minister to approve a shooting club or shooting range; or

• (c) cancel the revocation of the licence, registration certificate, authorization or approval or the decision of the chief firearms officer under section 67.

Appeals to Superior Court and Court of Appeal

Marginal note:Nunavut

76.1 With respect to Nunavut, the following definitions apply for the purposes of sections 77 to 81.

provincial court judge

provincial court judge means a judge of the Nunavut Court of Justice. (juge)

superior court

superior court means a judge of the Court of Appeal of Nunavut. (cour supérieure)

Marginal note:Appeal to superior court

• 77 (1) Subject to section 78, where a provincial court judge makes an order under paragraph 76(a), the applicant for or holder of the licence, registration certificate, authorization or approval, as the case may be, may appeal to the superior court against the order.

• Marginal note:Appeal by Attorney General

  (2) Subject to section 78, where a provincial court judge makes an order under paragraph 76(b) or (c),

  • (a) the Attorney General of Canada may appeal to the superior court against the order, if the order is directed to a chief firearms officer who was designated by the federal Minister, to the Registrar or to the federal Minister; or

  • (b) the attorney general of the province may appeal to the superior court against the order, in the case of any other order made under paragraph 76(b) or (c).

Marginal note:Notice of appeal

• 78 (1) An appellant who proposes to appeal an order made under section 76 to the superior court must give notice of appeal not later than thirty days after the order is made.

• Marginal note:Extension of time

  (2) The superior court may, either before or after the expiration of those thirty days, extend the time within which notice of appeal may be given.

• Marginal note:Contents of notice

  (3) A notice of appeal must set out the grounds of appeal, together with such further material as the superior court may require.

• Marginal note:Service of notice

  (4) A copy of any notice of appeal filed with the superior court under subsection (1) and of any further material required to be filed with it shall be served within fourteen days after the filing of the notice, unless before or after the expiration of those fourteen days further time is allowed by the superior court, on

  • (a) the Attorney General of Canada, in the case of an appeal of an order made under paragraph 76(a) confirming a decision of a chief firearms officer who was designated by the federal Minister, of the Registrar or of the federal Minister;

  • (b) the attorney general of the province, in the case of an appeal against any other order made under paragraph 76(a);

  • (c) the applicant for or holder of the licence, registration certificate, authorization or approval, in the case of an appeal against an order made under paragraph 76(b) or (c); and

  • (d) any other person specified by the superior court.

Marginal note:Disposition of appeal

• 79 (1) On the hearing of an appeal, the superior court may

  • (a) dismiss the appeal; or

  • (b) allow the appeal and, in the case of an appeal against an order made under paragraph 76(a),

    • (i) direct the chief firearms officer or Registrar to issue a licence, registration certificate or authorization or direct the provincial minister to approve a shooting club or shooting range, or

    • (ii) cancel the revocation of the licence, registration certificate, authorization or approval or the decision of the chief firearms officer under section 67.

• Marginal note:Burden on applicant

  (2) A superior court shall dispose of an appeal against an order made under paragraph 76(a) by dismissing it, unless the appellant establishes to the satisfaction of the court that a disposition referred to in paragraph (1)(b) is justified.

Marginal note:Appeal to court of appeal

80 An appeal to the court of appeal may, with leave of that court or of a judge of that court, be taken against a decision of a superior court under section 79 on any ground that involves a question of law alone.

Marginal note:Application of Part XXVII of the Criminal Code

81 Part XXVII of the Criminal Code, except sections 785 to 812, 816 to 819 and 829 to 838, applies in respect of an appeal under this Act, with such modifications as the circumstances require and as if each reference in that Part to the appeal court were a reference to the superior court.

Commissioner of Firearms

Marginal note:Appointment

81.1 The Governor in Council may appoint a person to be known as the Commissioner of Firearms to hold office during pleasure. The Commissioner shall be paid such remuneration as the Governor in Council may fix.

Marginal note:Duties, functions and powers

81.2 Subject to any direction that the federal Minister may give, the Commissioner may exercise the powers and shall perform the duties and functions relating to the administration of this Act that are delegated to the Commissioner by the federal Minister.

Marginal note:Delegation — federal Minister

81.3 The federal Minister may delegate to the Commissioner any duty, function or power conferred on the federal Minister under this Act, except the power to delegate under this section and the power under subsections 97(2) and (3).

Marginal note:Incapacity or vacancy

81.4 In the event of the absence or incapacity of, or vacancy in the office of, the Commissioner, the federal Minister may appoint a person to perform the duties and functions and exercise the powers of the Commissioner, but no person may be so appointed for a term of more than 60 days without the approval of the Governor in Council.