Summary : Commissioner of Firearms: 2007 Report

The Canadian Firearms Program made considerable progress with respect to a number of strategic priorities in 2007, including more integration with the RCMP’s National Police Services, focusing on support to law enforcement and public safety, and improving service to clients. The overarching consideration is the promotion of safe homes and safe communities.

Key trends in the RCMP and CAFC environment included growing use of technology by clients and the expectation that the Canada Firearms Centre would use technology to improve service. This was reflected in better turnaround times for licences and registrations. Growth in secure-network queries by police to the Canadian Firearms Registry On-line (CFRO) during 2007 was impressive and reflects a major improvement in the level of knowledge of and confidence in the program.

Another trend of significance to the CAFC was the public attention and concern about firearms crime and the perceived threat to public safety posed by privately owned firearms. Major investments were made in enhanced screening and other measures intended to both increase the rate of firearms-licensing compliance and deny licences to those who may be a threat to public safety.

To improve police awareness regarding their role in enforcing revocations and prohibitions and other Criminal Code provisions of the Firearms Act the CAFC launched a strategic-engagement initiative involving outreach to regional officials charged with law-enforcement responsibilities. Automatic continuous-eligibility screening of licencees was also key to public safety. Benefits were gained by linking police incident reports to the firearms licencee database and flagging licencees who appear to present a higher risk to public safety.

The Chief Firearms Officers continued to play a key role with respect to the licencee client base, and program support to CFOs has a direct payback in terms of client service and public safety. Linkages between CFOs and regional law enforcement were also strengthened with support from the program.

Outreach to Aboriginal communities in 2007 focused on firearms-safety training, as a means to reduce the firearms-related risk to public safety in these communities and encourage compliance with licensing and registration regulations. CAFC education and training initiatives were well received and will be a key component of the CAFC’s strategy in Aboriginal communities going forward.

Other initiatives are focused on continuously improving business activities, something that ultimately supports all strategic priorities. One of these relates to the quality of data within the Canadian Firearms Information System (CFIS), including postal-address quality, technical characteristics of firearms and the elimination of duplicate firearms records. New CFIS business-intelligence software (InSitesII) was used to automate and streamline production of notices to clients, court affidavits and other official documents. InSitesII also greatly improved the quality of management information regarding program operations and will be used in the future to support performance reporting.

Overall, the Canadian Firearms Program was strengthened and woven more closely into the RCMP’s National Police Services during 2007. It provided better service to law enforcement organizations, better service to licensing and registration clients, and was an important contributor to the RCMP’s overall goal of “safe homes, safe communities.” The RCMP is confident that 2008 will see continued progress in the priority areas.