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Participating Agencies
CANADA
Royal Canadian Mounted Police
The RCMP has a primary role as Canada's national police force and is
responsible for the enforcement of the Criminal Code of Canada - including
firearms offenses. In addition to conducting smuggling investigations, it
also enforces the Customs Act along the border between official ports of
entry.
Canada Firearms Centre
The Canada Firearms Centre (CAFC) was created in 2003 to oversee the administration of the Firearms Act and delivery of the Canadian Firearms Program. Public safety is the founding principle upon which the Firearms Act and the Program were created.
The Firearms Act and its related regulations govern the possession, transport, use and storage of firearms in Canada. The objective of the Firearms Program is to help reduce firearms-related death, injury and crime.
The Commissioner of Firearms, also the Commissioner of the RCMP, heads the CAFC and reports directly to the Minister of Public Safety.
Delivery of the Canadian Firearms Program depends upon a partnership involving the federal government, provincial governments and law enforcement agencies. Provincial Chief Firearms Officers, as well as federal partners, such as the Canada Border Services Agency and International Trade Canada play a key role in program delivery. CFOs are responsible for determining eligibility of firearms licenses, authorizations to transport or carry firearms. They also designate instructors for Canadian Firearms Safety Courses.
The Registrar of Firearms is responsible for the decision-making and administrative work related to registration certificates, authorizations to export and authorizations to import. In addition, the Registrar maintains and operates the Canadian Firearms Registry, and is responsible for refusing to issue or for revoking registration certificates when required.
Criminal Intelligence Service Canada
Criminal Intelligence Service Canada (CISC) is the voice of the Canadian
intelligence community and unites the criminal intelligence units of
Canadian law enforcement agencies in the fight against organized and
serious crime in Canada. It is comprised of a Central Bureau, located in
Ottawa, that functions on a national scale, along with provincial bureaus that operate
within each provincial boundary. CISC has dedicated resources to strategically evaluate
the illicit firearms issue in Canada.
National Weapons Enforcement Support Team
Created and initially funded by the Department of Justice, Canadian Firearms Program, NWEST is a unit of highly trained and experienced individuals working in a support role with local law enforcement to assist in anti-trafficking and anti-smuggling efforts. The team also helps the police community in dealing with issues of violence with firearms. Currently, NWEST is under the National Police Services (NPS) and administered by the RCMP. NWEST has representatives located in each Province throughout Canada.
Canada Border Services Agency
The CBSA is responsible for providing integrated border services that
support national security and public safety priorities and facilitate the
legitimate flow of persons and goods, including animals and plants. Its
role is to manage the nation's borders by administering and enforcing over
90 domestic laws, as well as international arrangements and conventions at
approximately 1,370 service points. The CBSA Officers are highly trained to prevent
and interdict the entry of illegal persons, goods, including firearms, through the sharing
of intelligence, investigations and enforcement. The CBSA utilizes state of the art
interdiction technology and has Intelligence Officers strategically placed in various
locations across Canada, US and overseas to enhance their enforcement efforts.
Provincial Weapons Enforcement Unit
The Provincial Weapons Enforcement Unit (PWEU) is a joint force unit
under the direction of the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP). It includes
member forces from most of the large police services in Ontario, as well
as the RCMP and Canada Border Services Agency. PWEU is a support
unit with the goal of assisting all law enforcement in Ontario to combat the
growing threat of illicit firearms and their subsequent impact on crimes of violence.
The PWEU mandate is to identify persons involved in the illegal movement of firearms
and to take enforcement action.
