Firearms safety training and instructors

On March 7, 2025, the Government of Canada by Order in Council (OIC) reclassified 179 additional makes and models of firearms as prohibited. The list of newly prohibited firearms is available on the Canada Gazette (Part II, Volume 159, Number 7) and took effect on March 7, 2025. A new amnesty order for the 179 firearms prohibited on March 7 will remain in place until March 1, 2026. 

This new amnesty order is separate from the existing amnesty orders for firearms prohibited via OIC under the May 2020 ban (1,500 makes/models) and the December 5, 2024 ban (324 makes/models), with both expiring on October 30, 2025. The amnesty orders have been put in place to prevent law-abiding firearms owners from falling into non-compliance while the federal government establishes its programs to compensate businesses and individuals for disposing of, or deactivation their prohibited firearms.

These firearms may no longer be used and must be securely stored according to their previous classification. “Use” would normally include any of the following activities:

• loading ammunition into a firearm
• discharging ammunition from a firearm
• carry a firearm for the purpose of being able to potentially discharge it and
• transporting a firearm for the purpose of discharging it (for example: to an approved range or to any hunting location)
• OIC-prohibited firearms may continue to be used by Indigenous persons exercising Aboriginal or treaty hunting rights until a new firearm can be obtained or the applicable amnesty order expires. This exception only applies to firearms previously classified as non-restricted.

“Use” would not normally include:

• cleaning a firearm
• transporting a firearm for the purpose of changing residence or place of storage
• exporting a firearm, or transporting it for the purpose of exporting it (Note: OIC-prohibited firearms cannot be transferred to a business)
• transporting a firearm to and from a gunsmith
• transporting a firearm for the purpose of returning it to its owner, if the OIC-prohibited firearm was owned by a different person as of the day of the firearm being classified as prohibited, March 7, 2025
• destroying or deactivating a firearm, or transporting it for the purpose of having it destroyed or deactivated

Key information for individuals who own OIC-prohibited firearms:

• To be protected from non-compliance with the Criminal Code by the amnesty order(s), owners of firearms prohibited by OIC must continue to hold a valid Possession and Acquisition Licence (PAL) with the appropriate privileges.
• If a PAL expires (beyond the 6-month grace period), owners of OIC-prohibited firearms would no longer be protected by the amnesty orders and would not be able to legally possess firearms of any classification until their licence was renewed.
  • Registration certificates for any restricted or prohibited firearms would be revoked.
  • OIC-prohibited firearms cannot be used, imported, or transferred except for a narrow set of exceptions as set out in the amnesty orders.
  • Participation in the federal Assault-Style Firearms Compensation Program is contingent on the prohibited firearm owner being continuously licensed.

There is a temporary target shooting ban in southern edge of Ghost Public Land Use Zone, located near Cochrane and Banff, effective August 29, 2024, until further notice.

Due to recent concerns of unsafe use of firearms, Alberta Forestry and Parks has implemented a temporary ban on target shooting on the southern edge of the Ghost Public Land Use Zone under the authority of the Public Lands Administration Regulation. Target shooting is not permitted in the closure area along TransAlta Road to increase safety for campers and commercial users in the area.

Conservation Officers, government staff and RCMP will be patrolling the area to provide guidance, education, and enforce the closure. Information kiosks along TransAlta Road and signage will also be in place to remind everyone about this change.

During the temporary ban, recreational shooting will still be allowed in other areas of the Ghost Public Land Use Zone.

Failure to follow safe firearms practices is illegal and should be reported to the RCMP or 310-LAND.

Hunting with a license, as defined by the Wildlife Act, remains permitted in the target shooting restriction area.

More information:

Contact Alberta Forestry and Parks:
Phone: 780-310-LAND (5263)
Map of the affected area
Ghost Public Land Use Zone

This fact sheet, Impact of (former federal Bill) C-21 on Alberta’s Firearms Businesses  updated on August 1, 2024 explains the changes resulting from Bill C-21 that are of greatest relevance to firearms businesses and their clientele. Highlighted in the fact sheet are the recent Order in Councils coming into effect on September 1, 2024.

Starting on September 1, 2024, individuals must have a valid Possession and Acquisition Licence (PAL) to :

• be transferred “firearm parts” (i.e., barrels and slides) by a business or individual and
• import “firearm parts” (i.e., barrels and slides), ammunition, and cartridge magazines

Individuals are impacted by both changes, while businesses are impacted by only the former change (regarding firearm parts transfer).

The federal government’s “firearm parts” definition includes firearm barrels and handgun slides, and any other prescribed part. Other parts may become firearm parts if so, prescribed by the Government of Canada.