37th Parliament, 2nd Session
(September 30, 2002 -     )

[Parliamentary Coat-of-Arms]

Edited Hansard • Number 110

Tuesday, June 3, 2003

 

Questions on the Order Paper

 

[Hansard – Page 6771]

 

Ms. Judy Sgro (Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Public Works and Government Services, Lib.): Mr. Speaker, the following questions will be answered today: Nos. 173, 211, 225 and 227.

 

Question No. 225-- Mr. Peter Stoffer: With respect to the control of firearms in Canada and to the 9,000 reported revocations and refusals of licenses pursuant to the provisions of the Firearms Act, and for each of the following types of license: possession-only license (POL), possession and acquisition license (PAL)(non-restricted) or possession and acquisition license (PAL)(restricted): (a) how many of the 9,000 revocations and refusals fell into each of these two categories;( b) how many of those whose applications were refused were first time applicants and how many were seeking renewal of their licenses; (c) how many licenses were refused pursuant to section 5(1) of the Firearms Act (FA) because of: (i) concerns that applicants might harm themselves; or (ii) concerns that the applicants might harm others; (d) how many licenses were refused pursuant to section 5(2)(a) of the FA because of convictions or discharges under section 736 of the Criminal Code during the 5 years preceding the application; (e) how many licenses were refused pursuant to section 5(2)(b) of the FA because of treatment of mental illness during the 5 years preceding the application; (f) how many licenses were refused pursuant to section 5(2)(c) of the FA because of a history of violent behavior during the 5 years preceding the application; (g) how many licenses were refused pursuant to sections 3(d), 3(2), or 4(1) of the Firearms Licenses Regulations (SOR/98 – 199) because a former spouse, an ex-spouse, or a common law partner expressed concern regarding the acquisition of firearms by the applicant; (h) how many licenses were refused pursuant to section 6 of the FA because the applicants were under prohibition orders; (i) how many licenses were refused pursuant to section 7 of the FA because: (i) the applicants did not complete the non-restricted courses; or (ii) the applicants did not complete the restricted courses; (j) how many licenses were refused that do not belong to either of the two categories referred to in the above paragraph (i); (k) how many licenses were revoked pursuant to section 70(a)(i) of the FA because the applicants are no longer or never were eligible; (l) how many licenses were revoked pursuant to section 70(a)(ii) of the FA because the applicants contravened a condition of a license; (m) how many licenses were revoked pursuant to section 70(a)(iii) of the FA because the applicants were charged or discharged under section 736 of the Criminal Code or because they committed an offense listed in section 5(2)(a) of the FA; (n) how many licenses were revoked for reasons others than the ones referred to in the above paragraphs (k), (l) or (m); and (o) how many licenses were revoked pursuant to section 16(1) of the Firearms Licenses Regulations (SOR/98 – 199) because a chief firearms officer who issued a license becomes concerned that the holder thereof has been involved in: (i) an act of domestic violence; or (ii) stalking?

 

Hon. Wayne Easter (Solicitor General of Canada, Lib.): The answer is as follows: a) Stats are as of May 5, 2003.

 

Licence Type    Refused            Revoked   

PALs               2,169               2,498               4,667

POLs               2,981               1,871               4,852

 

                                                Grand Total      9,519

    There is no statistical breakdown available for questions (b) to (o). The CFC is in the process of reviewing its statistical and other information requirements. This is part of our ongoing efforts to report on program achievements and effectiveness.

Question No. 227-- Mr. Garry Breitkreuz: With respect to reference and background checks done on each Possession and Acquisition Licence (PAL) applicant, what is the total number of PAL applications that have been processed since December 1, 1998, and how many of the two references per PAL application were actually called?

Hon. Wayne Easter (Solicitor General of Canada, Lib.): As of May 10, 2003, the total number of PAL applications that have been processed since December 1, 1998, is 659,083. Reference checks are performed during the course of an investigation, at the discretion of the investigator, based on the issue being assessed. There are no statistics available on how many of the two references per PAL application were actually called. The CFC is in the process of reviewing its statistical and other information requirements. This is part of our ongoing efforts to report on program achievements and effectiveness.

-------------------------------------------------------

FIREARMS LICENCE REFUSALS AND REVOCATIONS BY PROVINCE

http://www.cssa-cila.org/garryb/publications/RefusalsandRevokationsbyProv-2003-04-07.pdf

 

EASTER'S RESPONSE TO STOFFER'S FIRST ORDER PAPER QUESTION Q-109

http://www.cssa-cila.org/garryb/publications/orderpapermay-02-2003.htm