Introduction

Commissioner of Firearms - 2008 Report

• Program Overview
• Program Mission and Priorities
• RCMP/CFP Shared Priorities
• Program Enhancement
• CFP Locations
• Key Program Partners

Program Overview

Between January and June 2008, the Canada Firearms Centre (CAFC) was a service line within the RCMP’s National Police Services (NPS). CAFC direct service delivery comprised the Firearms Registry, the Licensing Directorate and the Operations Directorate, which included the Central Processing Site (CPS) in Miramichi, New Brunswick.

In June 2008, the CAFC and the RCMP’s Firearms Support Services Directorate (FSSD) were brought together to form an integrated entity called the Canadian Firearms Program (CFP). The four sections that make up FSSD are the National Weapons Enforcement Support Team (NWEST), the Canadian National Firearms Tracing Centre (CNFTC), the Tactical Analysis Unit (TAU) and the Firearms Reference Table (FRT). The CFP became part of the RCMP Policing Support Services (PSS) business line at the same time.

This amalgamation of the two firearms-related groups was both logical and strategic. The CFP has an enhanced capacity and effectiveness and a sharper focus on support to law enforcement.

Program Mission and Priorities

Aligned with both the Government of Canada and the RCMP’s commitment to Safe Homes and Safe Communities, the CFP’s goal is to enhance public safety by:

• providing police and other law enforcement organizations with operational and technical support and expertise vital to the prevention and investigation of firearms crime, and;
• reducing firearms-related death and injury in Canadian communities by controlling and promoting responsible firearms ownership, use and storage.

The CFP works directly with front-line police officers by supporting, guiding and informing them in firearms-related investigations. The CFP’s active role in addressing the illegal movement and criminal use of firearms both in Canada and internationally strengthens the ability of law enforcement and criminal justice partners to make Canadian communities safer.

The CFP also oversees the administration of the Firearms Act. This includes keeping records of the safety training, security screening and licensing of firearms users and the registration and reporting of all firearms. In this way, it promotes and increases firearms knowledge and safety awareness and provides Canadian police with current information on where firearms are likely to be encountered. This enables police to protect the communities they serve as well as themselves while performing their duties.

RCMP/CFP Shared Priorities

The CFP supports four of the RCMP’s strategic priorities:

Organized Crime

The CFP’s NWEST helps to investigate and reduce the trafficking of firearms supported by organized crime groups. Its expert investigators work with both domestic and international partners to dismantle today’s criminal groups. The CFP also provides accurate and up-to-date firearms ownership, licensing and registration data to authorized investigators. This, in turn, helps disrupt organized crime by allowing them to observe criminal firearms patterns within a community.

Terrorism

Illegally obtained firearms are a key tool for terrorists. The CFP is an active player in firearms-related smuggling and other cross-border issues. It is involved in the Cross Border Crime Forum (CBCF) and works with national and international agencies and groups, including the United Nations and INTERPOL, to combat firearms trafficking. The efficacy of Canada’s firearms program is acknowledged worldwide, and other countries have chosen to emulate it.

Youth

Although individuals under the age of 18 are not permitted to own firearms, they may obtain a licence that allows them to possess and use non-restricted firearms for purposes such as hunting and target shooting. The CFP promotes the safe storage, handling and use of firearms for all owners and users and recognizes the value of focusing communication and outreach efforts on safety education for youth. According to the Canada Safety Council, suicide is the second leading cause of death among Canada’s youth, and the highest proportion of completed suicides are committed with firearms. Secure storage and safety training reduces the risk of firearms being misused for such a purpose.

Aboriginal Communities

The CFP continues to engage and financially support Aboriginal communities on firearms-related projects at national, regional and local levels. By providing firearms-safety education and training as well as verification, licensing and registration assistance, these projects improve both individual and community safety. The CFP is also committed to researching and pursuing new initiatives and strengthening partnerships in and among Canada’s Aboriginal communities.

Program Enhancement

The alignment of FSSD with the CAFC under the umbrella of the Canadian Firearms Program created a mutually beneficial alliance that strengthens the foundation of the CFP within the RCMP Policing Support Services.

The amalgamation is strategic and evolutionary, as it offers the opportunity for two previously separate groups to combine efforts, share resources and offer mutual support to front-line enforcement. More importantly, it results in an enhanced collaborative capacity for the CFP to offer support, expertise and resources to law enforcement groups, partners and the public. The new CFP is a comprehensive single source for firearms-related information and assistance.

CFP Organizational Structure (2008)

CFP Locations

The CFP is geographically diverse, with offices and agents located across the country in all provinces and territories.

The Director General and headquarters staff are located in Ottawa, as is a portion of FSSD. NWEST is coordinated through an office in Mississauga, Ontario, while NWEST staff members are co-located with municipal and provincial police services and RCMP contract divisions across the country.

The national call centre and the CPS, where licensing and registration applications are processed, are located in Miramichi, New Brunswick.

Chief Firearms Officer (CFO) operations are located within each province. Five provincial governments -- Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, New Brunswick, Quebec and Ontario -- are taking part in the national firearms program and are therefore funded federally through contribution agreements. The staff in these provinces, including some police officers, are provincial employees.

The governments of the other five provinces -- Newfoundland and Labrador, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta and British Columbia -- have chosen to opt out of the national firearms program and, therefore, the CFOs and staff in those provinces are RCMP employees. Nunavut, Yukon and Northwest Territories are also administered by RCMP employees, under the leadership of provincial CFOs.

Despite the differences in governance, the CFOs’ work and operating practices are similar from province to province. This is because they are committed to public safety, have the same objectives and mandate, and are all governed by the Firearms Act.

Legal counsel is provided through the federal Department of Justice in Ottawa, ON; Edmonton, AB; and St. John’s, NL.

Key Program Partners

The CFP has effective collaborative relationships with a number of agencies:

Domestic Law Enforcement

The CFP works with and shares information with police forces across Canada. For instance, information that police provide through the Canadian Police Information Centre (CPIC), which is recorded in the Firearms Interest Police (FIP) database, helps identify people who should not have access to firearms for public safety reasons.

The Canadian Firearms Registry Online (CFRO), which officers can gain access to through CPIC, provides police with critical information about the presence of firearms and their registered owners. This information helps police assess risks when responding to calls, distinguish between legal and illegal firearms, trace the source of registered firearms found at crime scenes and identify and return stolen and lost firearms to their owners.

The CFP also works directly with front-line police officers, helping them during all stages of investigations involving the illegal movement and criminal use of firearms.

International Law Enforcement

The CFP cooperates with American and other police agencies internationally in an effort to prevent the illegal movement of firearms across borders. The year 2008 marked the 10th anniversary of the Cross Border Crime Forum, which annually brings together law enforcement and justice officials from Canada and the United States and addresses transnational crime problems such as smuggling and organized crime.

Public Safety Canada

The Minister of Public Safety has overall responsibility for the RCMP and its Canadian Firearms Program. The CFP and Public Safety Canada work together to ensure the Minister, parliamentarians and senior government officials have the information necessary to carry out their duties.

Provinces and Territories

The provinces of Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island and Nova Scotia have appointed their own CFOs under the Firearms Act, and the Government of Canada funds these operations through contribution agreements between the provinces and the federal government. As previously noted, the CFOs responsible for Newfoundland and Labrador as well as Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta, British Columbia, the Yukon, the Northwest Territories and Nunavut are appointed federally and are employees of the RCMP/CFP.

Department of Justice

Responsibility for the Criminal Code of Canada, including Part III (Firearms and Other Weapons), rests with the Minister of Justice. The Department of Justice also provides legal advice, drafting and litigation services to the Canadian Firearms Program.

Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade (DFAIT)

The CFP advises the Minister of Public Safety and works with DFAIT on Canada’s international commitments regarding firearms. The CFP also works with DFAIT to ensure that importers are aware of their obligations under the Firearms Act. DFAIT issues permits required to export and import firearms under the Export and Import Permits Act.

Department of Indian and Northern Affairs Canada (INAC)

The CFP advises aboriginal land claims negotiators with respect to firearms legislation and related issues.

Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA)

CBSA is responsible for assessing and confirming non-resident firearm declarations, collecting the applicable fees and administering other applicable provisions of the Firearms Act and relevant legislation. This involves determining the classification of imported firearms, establishing the destination and purpose for importing the firearms, assessing the eligibility of the importer and ensuring all firearms are transported safely and in accordance with Canadian law. CBSA also screens firearms and ammunition imports into Canada.

Firearms seized by CBSA by region (2008)

Barrel Length	Atlantic	Quebec	Greater Toronto	Niagara /Fort Erie	Windsor /St. Clair	Northern Ontario	Prairie	Pacific	All regions	% of Total
Antique	0	0	0	0	0	2	2	1	5	1%
Hand gun	10	23	1	38	56	23	68	109	328	67%
Long gun	8	16	1	3	12	11	21	83	155	32%
Total	18	39	2	41	68	36	91	193	488	100%
% of Total	4%	8%	0%	8%	14%	7%	19%	40%	100%