This bill is from the 44th Parliament, 1st session, which ended in January 2025.
Marco Mendicino Liberal
This bill has received Royal Assent and is now law.
This is from the published bill. The Library of Parliament has also written a full legislative summary of the bill.
This enactment amends the Criminal Code to, among other things,
(a) increase, from 10 to 14 years, the maximum penalty of imprisonment for indictable weapons offences in sections 95, 96, 99, 100 and 103;
(b) establish a regime that would permit any person to apply for an emergency prohibition order or an emergency limitations on access order and allow the judge to protect the security of the person or of anyone known to them;
(c) deem certain firearms to be prohibited devices for the purpose of specified provisions;
(d) create new offences for possessing and making available certain types of computer data that pertain to firearms and prohibited devices and for altering a cartridge magazine to exceed its lawful capacity;
(e) include, for interception of private communications purposes, sections 92 and 95 in the definition of “offence” in section 183;
(f) authorize employees of certain federal entities who are responsible for security to be considered as public officers for the purpose of section 117.07; and
(g) include certain firearm parts to offences regarding firearms.
The enactment also amends the Firearms Act to, among other things,
(a) prevent individuals who are subject to a protection order or who have been convicted of certain offences relating to domestic violence from being eligible to hold a firearms licence;
(b) transfer authority to the Commissioner of Firearms to approve, refuse, renew and revoke authorizations to carry referred to in paragraph 20(a) of the Act;
(c) limit the transfer of handguns only to businesses and exempted individuals and the transfer of cartridge magazines and firearm parts;
(d) impose requirements in respect of the importation of ammunition, cartridge magazines and firearm parts;
(e) prevent certain individuals from being authorized to transport handguns from a port of entry;
(f) require a chief firearms officer to suspend a licence if they have reasonable grounds to suspect that the licence holder is no longer eligible for it;
(g) require the delivery of firearms to a peace officer, or their lawful disposal, if a refusal to issue, or revocation of, a licence has been referred to a provincial court under section 74 of the Act in respect of those firearms;
(h) revoke an individual’s licence if there is reasonable grounds to suspect that they engaged in an act of domestic violence or stalking or if they become subject to a protection order;
(i) authorize the issuance, in certain circumstances, of a conditional licence for the purposes of sustenance;
(j) authorize, in certain circumstances, the Commissioner of Firearms, the Registrar of Firearms or a chief firearms officer to disclose certain information to a law enforcement agency for the purpose of an investigation or prosecution related to the trafficking of firearms;
(k) provide that the annual report to the Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness regarding the administration of the Act must include information on disclosures made to law enforcement agencies and be submitted no later than May 31 of each year; and
(l) create an offence for a business to advertise a firearm in a manner that depicts, counsels or promotes violence against a person, with a few exceptions.
The enactment also amends the Nuclear Safety and Control Act to, among other things,
(a) provide nuclear security officers and on-site nuclear response force members with the authority to carry out the duties of peace officers at high-security nuclear sites; and
(b) permit licensees who operate high-security nuclear sites to acquire, possess, transfer and dispose of firearms, prohibited weapons and prohibited devices used in the course of maintaining security at high-security nuclear sites.
The enactment also amends the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act to
(a) designate the Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness as the Minister responsible for the establishment of policies respecting inadmissibility on grounds of transborder criminality for the commission of an offence on entering Canada;
(b) specify that the commission, on entering Canada, of certain offences under an Act of Parliament that are set out in the regulations is a ground of inadmissibility for a foreign national; and
(c) correct certain provisions in order to resolve a discrepancy and clarify the rule set out in those provisions.
Finally, the enactment also amends An Act to amend certain Acts and Regulations in relation to firearms so that certain sections of that Act come into force on the day on which this enactment receives royal assent.
All sorts of information on this bill is available at LEGISinfo, an excellent resource from Parliament. You can also read the full text of the bill.
Bill numbers are reused for different bills each new session. Perhaps you were looking for one of these other C-21s:
Gary Anandasangaree Liberal Scarborough—Guildwood—Rouge Park, ON
Mr. Chair, from individuals who have weapons that they should not have under Bill C-21, we will be buying back—
Gary Anandasangaree Liberal Scarborough—Guildwood—Rouge Park, ON
Mr. Chair, the issue is about Bill C-21. Our intention is to ensure that law-abiding gun owners have the ability to hold on to their guns. At the same time, we are taking—
Frank Caputo Conservative Kamloops—Thompson—Nicola, BC
Mr. Chair, the classification of firearms has nothing to do with that. We are not talking about Bill C-21. We are talking about whether something as basic as how a firearm is classified is known by the public safety minister.
Gary Anandasangaree Liberal Scarborough—Guildwood—Rouge Park, ON
Mr. Chair, the questions before us today involve Bill C-21, and I will advise the House that—
Main Estimates, 2025-26Business of SupplyGovernment Orders
Scarborough—Guildwood—Rouge Park Ontario
Liberal
Gary Anandasangaree LiberalMinister of Public Safety
Mr. Chair, what I can tell the member is that Bill C-21 addresses a number of concerns we have heard from all Canadians, but it is to ensure—
Gary Anandasangaree Liberal Scarborough—Guildwood—Rouge Park, ON
Mr. Chair, Bill C-21 is meant to get serious, dangerous weapons off our streets.
Gabriel Hardy Conservative Montmorency—Charlevoix, QC
Madam Chair, I will quote the National Police Federation, which said that Bill C‑21 diverts extremely important personnel, resources, and funding away from addressing the more immediate and growing threat of criminal use of firearms.
Does the minister agree with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police's statement?
Gabriel Hardy Conservative Montmorency—Charlevoix, QC
Madam Chair, in my riding, many biathletes use firearms to practise their sport.
Will the legislation resulting from Bill C‑21 restrict them from using their guns to practise their sport?
Gary Anandasangaree Liberal Scarborough—Guildwood—Rouge Park, ON
Madam Chair, Bill C-21 was brought in to protect the safety and security of Canadians. There are legal gun owners. There are hunters who legitimately hunt. It should not be impacting those individuals.
Gabriel Hardy Conservative Montmorency—Charlevoix, QC
Madam Chair, without knowing how shooting ranges work, the Liberals are prepared to take action and take this option away from sport shooters who use firearms legally, in a structured and effective manner.
Will the legislation resulting from Bill C‑21 affect these people?
Gary Anandasangaree Liberal Scarborough—Guildwood—Rouge Park, ON
Madam Chair, we have a fairly robust set of guidelines for restricting guns, and Bill C-21 addresses many of the concerns that I have heard from my constituents.
Gabriel Hardy Conservative Montmorency—Charlevoix, QC
Madam Chair, throughout my election campaign, I had the privilege of meeting people from all over Montmorency—Charlevoix who talked to me about the legislation stemming from Bill C‑21. Farmers, hunters, sport shooters and even athletes told me how worried they were.
Can the minister tell us whether he agrees that the legislation stemming from Bill C‑21 is unfair?
Jeff Kibble Conservative Cowichan—Malahat—Langford, BC
Madam Speaker, I stand before this chamber for the first time, and I am humbled to represent the people of Cowichan—Malahat—Langford, located on beautiful Vancouver Island, from Chemainus to Langford and from Port Renfrew to Duncan, including Thetis Island and Penelakut Island. I thank them for putting their trust in me and for supporting positive change and hope for our riding.
To my wife, Angel, and to our children, I say thanks for their unwavering support, love and enthusiasm as I tackle this new mission in life to represent our communities.
I would also like to pass along my utmost gratitude and appreciation to my amazing campaign team and the committed volunteers who worked tirelessly to connect with as many constituents as possible. They include Janet and Fred, our senior-citizen, door-knocking dynamic duo. We all came together, working endlessly, and they put their trust in me. I thank them.
I say a special thanks to the many young people who volunteered and turned out in record numbers to vote for positive change and Conservative values, many for the first time. I truly believe that the work we are all doing here is for the youth and future generations of our nation, and that is the reason I am here. Their dreams of Canada, where hard work is rewarded with a good paycheque, where families can live in a safe neighbourhood and where they can one day afford a home, are the dreams I will continue to fight for.
Our riding is as diverse as our landscape, from the fast-growing city of Langford, with bustling urban life and a vibrant sports community, to the remote, rugged fishing town of Port Renfrew on the Pacific Ocean. There are farmlands, mills, small ports, logging, mountain ranges and remote communities spread across some 4,800 square kilometres. We have an active outdoor community and endless opportunities for recreation and tourism. We have numerous rivers and many fish hatcheries. It is a truly beautiful, stunning and vibrant place, where I have lived most of my adult life, and I am proud to call it home.
There are seven first nations that make up almost 10% of our population. I continue to learn from them while respecting their culture and traditions. There are seniors, young families, farmers, trade workers, retirees, anglers, hunters and business leaders. As well, there is a strong veteran community and many serving military members across our riding.
However, for all of Cowichan—Malahat—Langford's beauty, resources and opportunities, I am saddened to report that, as in much of Canada, our people are struggling. During my campaign, I spoke with thousands of people across our riding, and the message was clear: This is not the nation we all once knew. People are struggling to make ends meet, pay for groceries, heat their homes, pay their bills and provide for their families.
I met many who are losing their homes or who are now living in shelters or on the street. This needs to change. Many people live without a doctor or basic medical care, with wait-lists of many years. Some of our communities, including Port Renfrew and Lake Cowichan, have no doctors anymore. The seniors who built this country are struggling to make ends meet while feeling unsafe to go shopping in their once-safe communities. These are all signs of a failing economy, and this needs to change.
People are worried about rapidly increasing crime, disorder, open drug use, addictions, homelessness and poverty. This should not be the norm in our communities. The so-called safe supply experiment has failed. The overdose crisis continues to ravage communities, claiming thousands of lives in British Columbia alone.
Families are left helpless as loved ones succumb to addiction. This is exacerbated by government policies that prioritize the distribution of dangerous drugs without providing adequate rehabilitation and support systems. These are not just statistics that we hear in the news. They are our daughters, sons, mothers, fathers and loved ones. The trauma of losing family members to addiction leaves lasting scars. The absence of effective action to address this crisis continues the cycle of dysfunction and despair.
In Duncan, the crime rate is 237% above the national average, and the violent crime rate is 153% above the national average. A few months ago, I met Norm, a retired minister whose 80-year-old sister was mugged and pushed to the ground, breaking her hip.
In Langford, police are finding drug labs hidden in homes and pulling over cars to find fentanyl and illegal firearms. This needs to change. Crime is not just a story in the news; it is something that now touches everyone's life, my own family included. Two years ago, my daughter watched as her boyfriend, Jonny, was murdered by a stranger in downtown Victoria. He was stabbed to death by a repeat violent offender who was let out on bail for attempted murder not three weeks earlier and had a history of no fewer than five violent charges against him.
The Liberals' soft-on-crime bills have allowed dangerous criminals to remain free, which risks public safety. Violent criminals must be held to account to prevent further tragedies and restore faith in our justice system.
What of our veterans, the brave men and women who once stood defending our sovereignty and freedom? These heroes now face bureaucratic hurdles that strip them of the respect and the care they deserve. Too many veterans despair, hearing from their government that “they're asking for more than we are able to give right now”. We lose them not just to old age but to the despair that follows when a nation forgets its promises. This is unacceptable and must change.
Furthermore, serving members of the Canadian Armed Forces have been devastated by years of neglect. They face challenges that no military personnel should endure, from inadequate resources to outdated equipment and the inability to afford housing where they are stationed. To be a strong fighting force, they need modern equipment and solid recruitment, and we need to restore their customs and traditions. We must ensure they have the tools, training and resources required to do their job effectively.
We need to incentivize municipalities and reduce red tape and bureaucracy while unleashing our home builders so that hard-working tradespeople can build homes. They are the experts. We do not need another government agency that will fail to deliver homes.
We need to repeal Bill C-75 and Bill C-5 to keep repeat violent offenders behind bars so that people like Jonny could still be with us. We need to repeal Bill C-21 and protect the rights of our law-abiding, licensed hunters and sport shooters while protecting our borders and keeping illegal guns from entering Canada and illegal guns off our streets.
We need real tax cuts that will stimulate our economy and relieve pressure on so many.
We need to unleash our industry and natural resources to build our economy. For example, we need to take immediate steps to support B.C.'s recreational fishing industry, which is nearing collapse. A simple fix of marking all hatchery salmon would allow our recreational fishing industry to return from the brink of extinction. We have renewable resources, whether forests, fish, farming or even mining. Now is the time to use them responsibly and build wealth and rebuild our economy.
We need to spend on responsible infrastructure, such as by bringing in rapid transit and an alternative route for the dangerous Malahat Highway. Rapid transit would connect our island, bring economic prosperity, improve safety and benefit the environment.
Unfortunately, the throne speech was light on details. Promises of change and prosperity are not matched by actions or supported with plans. Where is the Prime Minister's plan? Where is the Prime Minister's budget? We were all elected to represent our ridings and bring positive change. Parliament should be sitting through the summer, with committees working tirelessly to address these changes. Actions are not matching the promises.
The people of Cowichan—Malahat—Langford have entrusted me with the immense responsibility of representing them in Ottawa, and I do not take this lightly. We are the government in waiting. Hope is what the House must rekindle in the heart of every Canadian. It is hope that drives parents; they work tirelessly so that their children can have a better life. We must ensure that our children inherit a Canada that embodies the values we hold dear, a Canada where hard work pays off, where families thrive and where every generation inherits a better future.
While I may be new to this chamber, I am not new to working for the federal government. I served Canada for 28 years in the Royal Canadian Navy, defending our great nation's sovereignty, democracy and freedom. Through the skills, leadership and experience gained at sea during operational deployments and command positions, I will continue my mission to serve Canada, but now from this chamber.
Let us rise together and restore the dignity of our seniors, respect our first nations, honour the sacrifices of our veterans, support our serving military and build a country so that our youth can once again have hope. Canada is worth it; our children are worth it, and the future we fight for begins today.
Claude DeBellefeuille Bloc Beauharnois—Salaberry—Soulanges—Huntingdon, QC
Mr. Speaker, during the previous Parliament, parliamentarians passed Bill C-21, legislation aimed at increasing gun control. However, since the bill passed, we have been waiting for the regulations that the government was supposed to introduce.
Does my colleague, who is concerned about safety, find it unusual that the regulations for such an important bill have not yet been introduced?
Public Safety and National SecurityCommittees of the HouseRoutine Proceedings
November 21st, 2024 / 12:30 p.m.
Liberal
Rachel Bendayan Liberal Outremont, QC
Mr. Speaker, obviously, we still have work to do to finish what we started.
However, I would have liked the Bloc Québécois to stay strong when things got a little tough in committee. When we debated Bill C-21, the Bloc Québécois remained oddly silent, although we would have liked them to support the amendments we brought forward at the time.
I hope to be able to work with the Bloc Québécois and PolyRemembers. I heard that a meeting finally took place between the Bloc Québécois leader and PolyRemembers just today. I look forward to working closely with my colleagues.