Vol. 139, No. 19 — September 21, 2005

Registration
SOR/2005-242 August 30, 2005

FIREARMS ACT

Regulations Amending the Firearms Marking Regulations

P.C. 2005-1467 August 30, 2005

Whereas the Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness is of the opinion that the change made to the Firearms Marking Regulations (see footnote a) by the annexed Regulations Amending the Firearms Marking Regulations is so immaterial and insubstantial that section 118 of the Firearms Act (see footnote b) should not be applicable in the circumstances;

And whereas the Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness will, in accordance with subsection 119(4) of the Firearms Act (see footnote c), have a statement of the reasons why she formed that opinion laid before each House of Parliament;

Therefore, Her Excellency the Governor General in Council, on the recommendation of the Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness, pursuant to section 117 (see footnote d) of the Firearms Act (see footnote e), hereby makes the annexed Regulations Amending the Firearms Marking Regulations.

REGULATIONS AMENDING THE FIREARMS MARKING REGULATIONS

AMENDMENT

1. Section 6 of the Firearms Marking Regulations (see footnote 1) is replaced by the following:

6. These Regulations come into force on December 1, 2007.

COMING INTO FORCE

2. These Regulations come into force on the day on which they are registered.

REGULATORY IMPACT ANALYSIS STATEMENT

(This statement is not part of the Regulations.)

Description

The Regulations amend the coming into force date of the Firearms Marking Regulations, SOR/2004-275, from April 1, 2006 to December 1, 2007.

Alternatives

The alternative to deferring the coming into force date of these Regulations is to bring the Regulations into force as planned on April 1, 2006. Representatives of firearms associations and of firearms businesses, especially firearms importers, have indicated that they will not be in a position to comply by April 2006. They indicated that delaying the coming into force for a sufficient period of time to allow importers and manufacturers to determine what steps they will be required to take in order to comply with the Regulations would be helpful.

Benefits and Costs

The deferral of the coming into force of the Firearms Marking Regulations is cost neutral. However, businesses and individuals who manufacture or import firearms will benefit from the delay since they will have a longer period in which to adjust business practices.

Consultation

Consultations on these Regulations were undertaken with concerned stakeholders, including provincial chief firearms officers, firearms businesses, associations and Program Advisory Committee members. All agreed that a deferral is the best course of action at this time, given the concerns outlined above.

To ensure that all stakeholders and interested parties are informed of the amendment to the Regulations, immediately upon a decision, affected client groups will be advised through bulletins from the Canadian Firearms Centre. Updated Website materials and information for distribution through the 1-800 public inquiry line will also be prepared. Other media relations will be handled on a response basis.

Compliance and Enforcement

It is an offence, pursuant to section 5 of the Firearms Marking Regulations to remove, alter, obliterate or deface markings.

Contact

Legal Counsel
Canadian Firearms Centre
Ottawa, Ontario
K1A 1M6
Telephone: 1-800-731-4000, extension 2072
FAX: (613) 941-1991

Footnote a

SOR/2004-275

Footnote b

S.C. 1995, c. 39

Footnote c

S.C. 1995, c. 39

Footnote d

S.C. 2003, c. 22, par. 224(z.38)

Footnote e

S.C. 1995, c. 39

Footnote 1

SOR/2004-275

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