The government’s regulatory policy requires a regulatory impact analysis statement, RIAS. A RIAS is prepared in accordance with a prescribed format, although the information in a RIAS will vary depending on the context of a specific regulatory proposal.
Regulations made under the Firearms Act must be tabled before both Houses of Parliament and may be scrutinized by House of Commons and Senate committees. There are three circumstances when such scrutiny is not required: (1) When an altered version of a proposed regulation has already been considered; (2) in cases of urgency, such as the amendments affecting the fee waiver in 2000; and (3) when “the Minister is of the opinion that the changes made by the regulation to an existing regulation are so immaterial or insubstantial” that committee review is not necessary.
In this case, the original set of regulations was considered by the House of Commons Standing Committee on Justice and Legal Affairs and Senate Standing Committee on Legal and Constitutional Affairs. Both committees heard evidence from numerous witnesses. Witnesses provided information on a wide variety of subjects including the cost impacts on their particular interests.
The RIAS stated that the regulations were in accordance with the government’s response to the committee report. Ordinarily, consultations are conducted by officials and reported to the public in the RIAS. In this case, the consultation was conducted by parliamentary committees and the entire body of evidence, including cost impacts, heard by the committee was readily available to both Parliament and the public at that time.
In light of the recommendations of the Auditor General and as indicated in the 2003-04 Report on Plans and Priorities, the program will report all revenues collected and refunds made in the future.