The Standing Senate Committee on Legal and Constitutional Affairs

has the honour to table its

NINTH REPORT

Your Committee, to which was referred the Regulations pursuant to Section 118 of the Firearms Act, has, in obedience to the Order of Reference of Tuesday, 28 October 2003, examined the said Regulations and now reports as follows:

Your Committee would like to thank the Solicitor General of Canada for appearing before it on such short notice and assuring it that the said Regulations would not be finalized and made until after considering its recommendations.  

The issue of firearms and how the rights of Aboriginal peoples of Canada are affected remains of great concern to your Committee.  Because of ongoing litigation, your Committee agrees that this may not be the most opportune time to review this most serious issue.  Your Committee does welcome certain of the initiatives that are underway to make the administration of the program more suitable to the particular needs of Aboriginal peoples.  For example, the hiring of a First Nations firearms officer to work in the West and the territories is a step in the right direction and was a recommendation made by this Committee to the Minister of Justice in 1997.  Many other issues, however, remain to be addressed.  

Your Committee noted that the Solicitor General of Canada is striving to achieve cost savings and improved services to Canadians.  There is no doubt that firearms control remains a controversial issue and that the cost of administering this program has adversely affected its credibility.    

The following are recommendations which your Committee feels should be brought to the attention of the Solicitor General of Canada.

Recommendation 1

A report should be made public on the consultations that are currently being held by the Canadian Firearms Centre with individuals and groups from across the country, seeking their feedback on the said Regulations and on the delivery of the firearms program in general.  The report should include any resulting changes made to the said Regulations and also to the delivery of the firearms program.  In addition, the report should set out recommendations that were not followed, including an explanation as to why they were rejected.  The individuals and groups who had their recommendations rejected should be contacted directly by the Canadian Firearms Centre and allowed to meet with officials in order that they receive adequate explanations as to why their recommendations were not followed.

Recommendation 2

All fees should be reviewed to ensure that they are affordable for individuals and businesses and that the firearms community is not required to cover a disproportionate level of the costs of the firearms program.

Respectfully submitted,

GEORGE FUREY
Chair