Report a public safety concern
If your concern is urgent or life-threatening, call 911.
If your concern is not urgent, contact the Canadian Firearms Program.
For updates on the proposed May 18, 2022 regulation changes, see Federal firearms updates below.
Overview
Alberta administers the federal Canadian Firearms Program to:
- oversee firearms licences and registration
- maintain provincial firearms safety training standards
- assist and collaborate with law enforcement agencies to help enhance public safety
- inform Albertans about firearms safety
- advocate for law-abiding firearms owners
Alberta’s Chief Firearms Office collaborates with partners to:
- reduce smuggling and straw purchasing
- crack down on firearms theft
- protect Albertans’ property rights
Firearms in Canada are regulated by the federal Firearms Act and Part III of the Criminal Code.
The Government of Alberta administers the Canadian Firearms Program in the province, while the federal government is responsible for creating firearms legislation and regulations in Canada.
Firearms services
We administer the following services related to firearms:
- helping you find certified firearms safety instructors
- approving shooting clubs and ranges to operate
For more information, see Firearms services.
Background
The Fair Deal Panel consulted tens of thousands of Albertans through in-person town hall meetings, an online survey and stakeholder interviews to get input on how best to secure a fair deal for Alberta. One of the panel’s recommendations, released in May 2020, was to appoint a Chief Firearms Officer for Alberta.
As a result, the Alberta Firearms Advisory Committee was established to provide recommendations on how Alberta can:
- better assert areas of provincial jurisdiction
- respect law-abiding Albertans long history of responsible firearms ownership
The Alberta Firearms Advisory Committee report was released on February 1, 2021.
Roles and responsibilities
There are 30 full-time staff across 7 branches to ensure Alberta’s Chief Firearms Office provides excellent and consistent services across the province.
Branches are located in:
- Edmonton
- Calgary
- Coaldale
- Grande Prairie
- Red Deer
- Vegreville
- Fort McMurray
Under the direction of Alberta’s Chief Firearms Officer, these professionals – firearms officers, firearms agents and other program staff – help the Chief Firearms Officer for Alberta fulfill their duties, which include:
- licensing individuals and businesses, such as retailers and museums
- conducting ongoing inspections of Alberta’s 326,000 individual licence holders to ensure they continue to be meet eligibility criteria
- approving and monitoring shooting clubs and ranges
- overseeing firearms safety courses
- updating records
- following courts orders to ensure public safety
- approving firearm purchases and sales
- issuing authorizations to transport and carry firearms
- providing assistance to police investigations
- licensing affidavits for court purposes
- attending hearings as a witness
- designating and licensing firearms instructors and examiners
Chief Firearms Officer
-
Teri Bryant
Bryant was a member of the Alberta Firearms Advisory Committee. She served as the secretary of the Alberta Arms and Cartridge Collectors Association for the past 16 years and is the president of the Military Collectors Club of Canada. Bryant was an associate professor with the Haskayne School of Business at the University of Calgary on national and international business.
As Chief Firearms Officer (CFO), Bryant will demonstrate that public safety and a flourishing firearms community are mutually complementary goals. She will ensure that we preserve for future generations a firearms heritage that reflects Alberta’s values of safety, responsibility and respect for individual rights.
In the community
A major part of Alberta’s CFO’s role is to help bond Alberta’s law-abiding firearms community together. The CFO will have a strong presence in Alberta, connecting with stakeholders across the province to explain how the office advocates for law-abiding firearms owners and focus on safety.
Over the coming months CFO Bryant will be attending a variety of gun shows across the province and meeting with businesses along the way.
If you would like the CFO to attend an event in your community, contact us.
News
- Fighting the federal firearm registry (May 17, 2022)
- Fighting a backdoor federal long gun registry (May 11, 2022)
- Fighting the federal firearm ban (April 14, 2022)
- Standing up for law-abiding firearms owners (April 13, 2022)
- Alberta names chief firearms officer (August 26, 2021)
Feedback
If you have any suggestions that would help us enhance the administration of the Canadian Firearms Program, let us know. Unfortunately, we cannot reply to every suggestion, but your feedback will be used to increase the efficiency and effectiveness of the program.
For feedback and questions about the administration of the Canadian Firearms Program, contact us.
Federal firearms updates
Public Safety announcement of further firearms – May 30, 2022
On May 30, 2022, the Government of Canada introduced firearms legislation and regulations that would strengthen gun control in Canada.
Bill C-21, An Act to amend certain Acts and to make certain consequential amendments (firearms) proposes:
- a national ‘freeze’ on handguns to prevent individuals from bringing newly-acquired handguns into Canada, or buying, selling, or transferring any handguns within Canada (with very limited exceptions for high-performance sports shooting athletes, coaches and individuals who carry handguns as part of their lawful profession (for example, Authorization to Carry)
- to combat intimate partner and gender-based violence, and self-harm involving firearms by creating new 'red and yellow flag' laws
- to expand licence revocation and seizure of firearms in cases of protection and restraining orders and for those involved in acts of domestic violence or criminal harassment (for example, stalking)
- to fight gun smuggling and trafficking by:
- increasing maximum criminal penalties and providing more tools for law enforcement to investigate firearms crimes
- broadening the authority for border services officers to take measures against foreign nationals who have committed offences at the border
Regulations supporting the national 'freeze' on handguns were also tabled on May 30, 2022.
Read the news release: Further strengthening our gun control laws
More information about each element can be found at Public Safety Canada.
We are aware that this announcement may result in questions from our clients. However, until the legislation and regulations are passed and their provisions come into force, all existing legislative and regulatory requirements governing firearms remain unchanged.
Regulation changes – May 18, 2022
On May 11, 2022, the Canadian Firearms Program (CFP) issued the following news release: Government of Canada implements new rules to better regulate non-restricted firearms.
Highlights
- Effective May 18, 2022, individuals and businesses will be able to confirm the validity of an individual’s firearms licence through the Canadian Firearms Program’s online portal 7 days a week.
- Law enforcement will only have access to firearm business records of non-restricted transfers on reasonable grounds, and often with judicial authorization.
- The regulations are part of former Bill C-71, An Act to Amend certain Acts and Regulations in relation to firearms, which received Royal Assent in June 2019.
- Additional provisions under former Bill C-71 to expand background checks to cover an applicant's lifetime, and reinstate the requirement to apply for an authorization to transport restricted and prohibited firearms to locations other than a shooting range or home after a purchase, came into force on July 7, 2021.
For details about transferring a firearm, and how to log in to Individual Web Services, see Transfer a firearm.
Other updates
- Changes to the Canadian Firearms Program service fees came into effect on March 31, 2002.
- The Government of Canada has extended the Amnesty Order to October 30, 2023, for firearms that were prohibited on May 1, 2020.
- What you need to know about Bill C-71
- On February 16, 2021, the Government of Canada announced further firearms-related measures.
- On May 1, 2020, the Government of Canada reclassified certain firearms and devices as prohibited.
Contact
Connect with Alberta’s Chief Firearms Office:
Email: [email protected]
Address:
Alberta Chief Firearms Office
PO Box 458, Station Main
Edmonton, Alberta T5J 2K1
Was this page helpful?
You will not receive a reply. Do not enter any personal information such as telephone numbers, addresses, or emails.
Your submissions are monitored by our web team and are used to help improve the experience on Alberta.ca. If you require a response, please go to our Contact page.