Canadian Firearms Program

Your source for firearms services and information

The Canadian Firearms Program combats the illicit movement of firearms and provides support and training to police and the criminal justice system. It also manages universal licensing of firearms users, a system which supports individual use of firearms for hunting and various recreational purposes. And the CFP maintains national firearms safety training standards: over 1 million Canadians have now completed the CFP’s Canadian Firearms Safety Course. All information is recorded for public safety purposes in the Canadian Firearms Information System (CFIS), which is managed by the RCMP.

Show me some numbers!

The CFP has developed a new and more robust performance and statistical information package. The new “Performance Information” is posted quarterly, and provides new information as well as historical data which shows the CFP’s evolution and contribution to public safety.

There are almost 1.9 million firearms licence holders in Canada

While the vast majority of firearm owners are responsible and comply with the law, over 22,000 firearms licences have been refused or revoked by the CFP for public safety reasons. Most revocations are due to court orders following a conviction.

The CFP is the source of firearms information for front-line police

If a police officer gets a call that may involve firearms, the CFP is there to help. The Canadian Firearms Registry Online (CFRO) contains information on all firearms licence holders as well as registered firearms. CFRO is a check that officers can use prior to attending a call, and is currently being accessed more than 14,000 times a day.

How else does the CFP promote a safe and secure Canada?

Continuous eligibility screening of all firearms licence holders alerts Chief Firearms Officers to public safety risks so appropriate action can be taken. This is done automatically, by computer, every day.

Enhanced screening is an initiative under which trained CFP staff speak directly with a firearms licence applicant and their references to gain more comprehensive knowledge about the applicant.

A national program - Decisions regarding firearms licences apply everywhere in Canada, eliminating public safety gaps.

What's New

24 JUNE 2011
Two Zoraki Blank Firing Pistols Identified as Prohibited Firearms

16 MAY 2011
The Government of Canada has announced the fees for most firearms licence renewals or upgrades have been waived until May 16, 2012, extending the existing waiver for one more year. 

02 MAY 2011
Flare Gun Determined to be Restricted Firearm

30 MARCH 2011
Extension of firearms compliance measures until May 16, 2013

1 DECEMBER 2010

• Firearms Marking Regulations Deferred until December 1, 2012
• Gun Shows Regulations Postponed until November 30, 2012

14 OCTOBER 2010
The 2009 Commissioner of Firearms Report is now available

31 AUGUST 2010
Canadian Firearms Program - Evaluation