Compliance Incentives

Amnesty

An amnesty has been enacted to protect non-compliant owners of non-restricted firearms from criminal liability while they are taking steps to comply with the licensing and registration requirements of the Firearms Act. This amnesty will be in effect until
May 16, 2010.

The amnesty applies to individuals in the following circumstances:

• Individuals who are in possession of a non-restricted firearm and hold a Possession Only Licence (POL) or a Possession and Acquisition Licence (PAL) for such a firearm, but do not hold a registration certificate for that firearm; or
• Individuals who are in possession of a non-restricted firearm, who do not hold a registration certificate for the firearm in question and who:
  • Held a POL or a PAL that expired between January 1, 2004 and May 16, 2009; or
  • Currently hold a POL or a PAL that will expire between May 17, 2009 and May 16, 2010.

The amnesty permits the following:

• Licensed individuals can obtain a registration certificate for their non-restricted firearm;
• Individuals with expired licences as described above can obtain a registration certificate after renewing their licence.
• All individuals can:
  • deactivate the firearm so that it is no longer a firearm;
  • sell or give the firearm to a public service agency (such as police service), to a business (including a museum) that holds a licence authorizing the acquisition, or to an individual who holds a PAL;
  • export the firearm in accordance with all legal requirements, including those of the importing country; or
  • turn in the firearm to a police officer or a firearms officer for destruction or other disposal.

The amnesty does not apply to individuals who have never obtained a Canadian firearms licence (POL or PAL).

Possession Only Licence (POL)

A POL is valid for five years and allows firearm owners to possess registered firearms, including borrowed firearms, of any class their licence allows. The POL does not allow for the acquisition of more firearms.

New POL Initiative

A new policy initiative, which encourages holders of expired POLs to return to compliance with firearms licensing regulations, was launched in 2008 and will continue to be in effect until May 16, 2010. Firearm owners whose POL expired on or after January 1, 2004, may be eligible to apply for a new POL, if they meet all of the following criteria:

• They previously held a POL which expired naturally (was not revoked or refused);
• They are in possession of at least one restricted or non-restricted firearm that was or is registered; and
• They meet all public safety requirements in order to possess firearms.

Eligible individuals who have maintained a valid address with the Canadian Firearms Program (CFP) will be sent a new POL application under this initiative. There is no fee for the new POL.

Eligible individuals who have not received an application or who are unsure if they have updated their addresses are encouraged to call the CFP’s toll-free number: 1-800-731-4000. It is essential to notify the CFP of any address changes to ensure renewal notices and other important CFP information circulars are received.

Previous POL holders with a PAL application still in process may apply for a new POL under this initiative. Individuals who have had a POL refused or revoked are not eligible to apply for the new POL.

Grandfathering privileges for prohibited firearms are permanently lost when a POL expires. They cannot be reinstated after obtaining a new POL. In these situations, prohibited firearms must be lawfully disposed of. Guidance on how to lawfully dispose of a firearm can be obtained through one of the contact options listed below.

Fee Waiver

Individuals are no longer required to pay the fee for the renewal of their POL or their PAL. The fee waiver also applies to:

• individuals who are modifying their licence to upgrade from a POL to a PAL
• individuals who are adding new privileges to their licence
• individuals whose licence expired and are obtaining a new licence
• minors who renew their minors possession licence

This fee waiver does not apply to:

• individuals obtaining their first licence
• individuals who held a minors licence and are applying for a PAL
• individuals who are obtaining a new licence after their licence was refused or revoked
• individuals obtaining a licence after the expiry of a firearms prohibition order

This fee waiver will continue to be in effect until May 16, 2010.

Information

For more information, contact the CFP.

This fact sheet is intended to provide general information only. For legal references, please refer to the Firearms Act and its Regulations. Provincial, territorial and municipal laws, regulations and policies may also apply.

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