Insofar as the Ministry of the Solicitor General of Canada and its agency is concerned, the answer is as follows:
ROYAL CANADIAN MOUNTED POLICE (RCMP)
Information from RCMP computerized records from June 1991 to June 1995 indicates that the RCMP has destroyed the following types and quantities of RCMP-owned firearms:
Rifles-183 Gas Guns-21 Pistols-35 Revolvers-391 Shotguns-13 Tactical weapons (Submachine guns)-13
The majority of these firearms were destroyed because they were no longer serviceable or were not economical to repair. Information from (paper) files prior to 1991, is no longer available. Files were destroyed in accordance with schedules established for the retention of such documentation. Information was not kept specifically for statistical purposes.
The RCMP is also in the process of destroying an additional 178 rifles, 136 pistols and 22,000 revolvers, which the RCMP considers obsolete or surplus to its requirements.
Current Public Works and Government Services Canada (PWGSC)/Crown Assets Distribution Directorate (CADD) policy governing the disposal of firearms only allows for the sale of serviceable weapons on a government-to-government basis, or destruction. CADD also views the trade-in of firearms as another form of "sale". The RCMP did not pursue the possibility of trading in its .38 calibre revolvers or other firearms because it was not clear what degree of control the RCMP would have over the final disposition of those firearms, once they were turned over to the purchaser (in most cases a firearms distributor acting on behalf of a manufacturer).
The Solicitor General of Canada and the Commissioner of the RCMP recognize that both public opinion and government policy strongly support stricter gun control and initiatives that reduce the proliferation of firearms in society. The RCMP chose to lead by example and not pursue the authority to trade-in or sell its obsolete firearms to any firearms distributors or individuals for collection purposes. As no sale or disposal is being considered, it is difficult to speculate on the fair market value of the firearms as collectors items or as historical artifacts.
Question No. 54-