Updated: 2/25/12
Long-Gun Amnesty
In 2006, the Canadian federal government introduced a long-gun amnesty to protect non-compliant owners of non-restricted rifles and shotguns from prosecution while they took steps to comply with the licensing and registration requirements of the Firearms Act. The amnesty has been extended yearly since then, and is effective until May 16, 2013.
The long-gun amnesty allows owners of long-guns with licences that expired after January 2004 to renew their licences without being charged for possessing an unauthorized firearm.
The long-gun amnesty does not apply to individuals who:
- have never held a firearms licence; or
- had a firearms licence or Firearms Acquisition Certificate that expired before January 2004; or
- possess restricted or prohibited firearms without a valid licence and/or registration certificate.
The amnesty is not retroactive, and charges laid before May 16, 2006 continue to apply. Other offences related to non-restricted firearms, such as unsafe storage, also continue to apply.
Firearms Licence Fee Waivers
In 2006 the Conservative government also introduced fee waivers for individuals renewing their Possession Only Licence (POL) or their Possession and Acquisition Licence (PAL). The fee waivers also apply to upgrading a licence from a POL to a PAL, adding new privileges to a licence, getting a new licence if an indiviudal's licence has expired, and renewing a Minors Possession Licence.
The fee waivers are in effect until May 16, 2012.
For further details, see the RCMP Firearms Program factsheet Renewing Your Firearms Licence.
