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Firearms Act (S.C. 1995, c. 39)

Full Document:  

Act current to 2024-02-20 and last amended on 2023-12-15. Previous Versions

Licences, Registration Certificates and Authorizations (continued)

Refusal to Issue and Revocation (continued)

 [Repealed, 2003, c. 8, s. 46]

References to Provincial Court Judge

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

  •  (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.

  • 1995, c. 39, s. 74
  • 2003, c. 8, s. 47

Marginal note:Hearing of reference

  •  (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

 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

 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)

  • 1999, c. 3, s. 64

Marginal note:Appeal to superior court

  •  (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

  •  (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

  •  (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

 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

 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

 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.

  • 2003, c. 8, s. 48

Marginal note:Duties, functions and powers

 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.

  • 2003, c. 8, s. 48

Marginal note:Delegation — federal Minister

 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).

  • 2003, c. 8, s. 48

Marginal note:Incapacity or vacancy

 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.

  • 2003, c. 8, s. 48

Marginal note:Superannuation and compensation

 The Commissioner shall be deemed to be a person employed in the Public Service for the purposes of the Public Service Superannuation Act and to be employed in the public service of Canada for the purposes of the Government Employees Compensation Act and any regulations made pursuant to section 9 of the Aeronautics Act.

  • 2003, c. 8, s. 48

Canadian Firearms Registration System

Registrar of Firearms

Marginal note:Registrar of Firearms

 An individual to be known as the Registrar of Firearms shall be appointed or deployed in accordance with the Public Service Employment Act.

  • 1995, c. 39, s. 82
  • 2003, c. 8, s. 49

Marginal note:Incapacity or vacancy

 In the event of the absence or incapacity of, or vacancy in the position of, the Registrar, the Commissioner may perform the duties and functions and exercise the powers of the Registrar.

  • 2003, c. 8, s. 49

Records of the Registrar

Marginal note:Canadian Firearms Registry

  •  (1) The Registrar shall establish and maintain a registry, to be known as the Canadian Firearms Registry, in which shall be kept a record of

    • (a) every licence, every registration certificate for a prohibited firearm or a restricted firearm and every authorization that is issued or revoked by the Registrar;

    • (b) every application for a licence, a registration certificate for a prohibited firearm or a restricted firearm or an authorization that is refused by the Registrar;

    • (c) every transfer of a firearm of which the Registrar is informed under section 26 or 27;

    • (d) every exportation from or importation into Canada of a firearm of which the Registrar is informed under section 42 or 50;

    • (e) every loss, finding, theft or destruction of a firearm of which the Registrar is informed under section 88; and

    • (f) such other matters as may be prescribed.

  • Marginal note:Operation

    (2) The Registrar is responsible for the day-to-day operation of the Canadian Firearms Registry.

  • 1995, c. 39, s. 83
  • 2012, c. 6, s. 23

Marginal note:Destruction of records

 The Registrar may destroy records kept in the Canadian Firearms Registry at such times and in such circumstances as may be prescribed.

Marginal note:Other records of Registrar

  •  (1) The Registrar shall establish and maintain a record of

    • (a) firearms acquired or possessed by the following persons and used by them in the course of their duties or for the purposes of their employment, namely,

      • (i) peace officers,

      • (ii) persons training to become police officers or peace officers under the control and supervision of

        • (A) a police force, or

        • (B) a police academy or similar institution designated by the federal Minister or the lieutenant governor in council of a province,

      • (iii) persons or members of a class of persons employed in the federal public administration or by the government of a province or municipality who are prescribed by the regulations made by the Governor in Council under Part III of the Criminal Code to be public officers, and

      • (iv) chief firearms officers and firearms officers;

    • (b) firearms acquired or possessed by individuals on behalf of, and under the authority of, a police force or a department of the Government of Canada or of a province;

    • (c) every request for a reference number made to the Registrar under section 23 and, if the request is refused, the reasons for refusing the request; and

    • (d) every reference number that is issued by the Registrar under subsection 23(3) and, with respect to each reference number, the day on which it was issued and the licence numbers of the transferor and transferee.

  • Marginal note:Reporting of acquisitions and transfers

    (2) A person referred to in paragraph (1)(a) or (b) who acquires or transfers a firearm shall have the Registrar informed of the acquisition or transfer.

  • Marginal note:Destruction of records

    (3) The Registrar may destroy any record referred to in subsection (1) at such times and in such circumstances as may be prescribed.

Marginal note:Records to be transferred

 The records kept in the registry maintained pursuant to section 114 of the former Act that relate to registration certificates shall be transferred to the Registrar.

Records of Chief Firearms Officers

Marginal note:Records of chief firearms officers

  •  (1) A chief firearms officer shall keep a record of

    • (a) every licence and authorization that is issued or revoked by the chief firearms officer;

    • (b) every application for a licence or authorization that is refused by the chief firearms officer;

    • (c) every prohibition order of which the chief firearms officer is informed under section 89; and

    • (d) such other matters as may be prescribed.

  • Marginal note:Destruction of records

    (2) A chief firearms officer may destroy any record referred to in subsection (1) at such times and in such circumstances as may be prescribed.

 

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