Horizontal initiatives

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Initiative to Take Action Against Gun and Gang Violence

General information

Name of horizontal initiative

Initiative to Take Action Against Gun and Gang Violence (ITAAGGV)

Lead department

Public Safety Canada

Federal partner organization(s)

Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA)
Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP)

Note: Other government departments (e.g. the Department of Justice) are supporting this federal initiative. However, they are not captured in these Horizontal Initiative tables as they have not received funding through this initiative.

Start date

September 28, 2018

End date

March 31, 2028Footnote1

Description

These activities deliver on a Budget 2016 Government commitment to take action against gun and gang violence by removing handguns and assault-style firearms from our streets, and for the Minister of Public Safety to work with provincial, territorial and municipal counterparts to develop a strategy on how the federal government can best support communities and law enforcement in their ongoing efforts to make it harder for criminals to obtain and use firearms, and to reduce gun and gang violence.

The ITAAGGV helps to support a variety of strategies to reduce gun crime and criminal gang activities, and is centered around three themes:

The RCMP is expanding and enhancing existing services by:

The CBSA is investing in new technologies and specialized training to better interdict illicit trafficking across the border by:

Public Safety Canada is providing funding to provinces and territories (PTs) through the Gun and Gang Violence Action Fund (GGVAF) to combat the issue of gun and gang violence in communities across Canada. PTs are responsible for further distributing funding to eligible recipients in their jurisdictions, in order to advance efforts in the priority areas of prevention; intervention; gang exit; outreach and awareness programming; strategy development; training; and enhancing intelligence sharing and law enforcement capacity to combat gun and gang violence. Supplemental funding to the Youth Gang Prevention Fund (YGPF) is directed toward Indigenous recipients.

Additionally, Public Safety Canada will enhance federal leadership by developing an integrated, results-based approach to reducing gun and gang violence across Canada, including by developing expertise on guns and gangs including linkages to other illicit markets; creating a national strategy; as well as improving the collection of national data related to gun and criminal activity in a coordinated approach with partners and the sharing of information and best practices to avoid duplication of efforts.

Governance structure

Public Safety Canada will establish and chair an Assistant Deputy Minister (ADM) level committee with participation from CBSA and RCMP as the Oversight Committee for the Initiative. The Committee will meet at least twice a year, corresponding with the planning and reporting cycle. Its role is to review the status of the various initiatives and progress made in meeting results targets; direct adjustments if necessary; and provide overall direction to the implementation of the horizontal initiative.

A working group comprising PS, RCMP and CBSA have been working together in the development of the ITAAGGV, including the results measurement strategy. Going forward, partners will ensure that the membership of this group reflects the necessary areas within each organization to speak to programming and results and financial planning and reporting. This group will meet to ensure that systems are in place to support effective horizontal planning and reporting and will support the ADM level Oversight Committee, ensuring that any issues that may affect the performance of the initiative are flagged to ADMs as they arise.

Total federal funding allocated from start to end date (dollars)

$806,748,797

Total federal planned spending to date (dollars)     

$531,700,013

Total federal actual spending to date (dollars)

$385,961,541

Date of last renewal of initiative

CBSA: N/A

RCMP: 2023 to 2024

PS: 2023 to 2024

Total federal funding allocated at last renewal and source of funding (dollars)         

$450,610,667

Additional federal funding received after last renewal (dollars)  

N/A

Total planned spending since last renewal   

$183,346,762

Total actual spending since last renewal       

$91,116,327

Fiscal year of planned completion of next evaluation

An evaluation of the Initiative to Take Action Against Gun and Gang Violence is planned to be completed in FY 2027 to 2028.

Planning highlights

Public Safety Canada (PS)

Public Safety Canada will continue to provide funding to provinces and territories (PTs) through the Gun and Gang Violence Action Fund (GGVAF) to combat the issue of gun and gang violence in communities across Canada. PTs are responsible for further distributing funding to eligible recipients in their jurisdictions, in order to advance efforts in the priority areas of prevention; intervention; gang exit; outreach and awareness programming; strategy development; training; and enhancing intelligence sharing and law enforcement capacity to combat gun and gang violence. In addition, funding is allocated under the Youth Gang Prevention Fund (YGPF) and directed towards Indigenous recipients. A call for proposals under the National Crime Prevention Strategy, which includes the YGPF, has closed in December 2024, with funding to be distributed in 2025 to 2026.

Additionally, PS will enhance federal leadership by developing an integrated, results-based approach to reducing gun and gang violence across Canada, including by developing expertise on guns and gangs including linkages to other illicit markets; launching a national strategy; as well as improving the collection of national data related to gun and criminal activity in a coordinated approach with partners and the sharing of information and best practices to avoid duplication of efforts. The third Annual Stakeholder Survey will be delivered in late 2025 or early 2026.

Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA)

The initiative consists of 6 sub-initiatives:

  1. Intercept Illicit Guns in Postal Stream (Postal);
  2. Detecting Firearms - Detector Dogs (DDS);
  3. Construction & maintenance of an All-Weather Facility Training Facility (AWF);
  4. Transnational Organized Crime Threat Identification - Interpol Interface;
  5. Advanced Vehicles Concealment Techniques Course (AVC); and
  6. Air Cargo Security.

The CBSA will pursue its effort to invest in new technologies to better interdict illicit trafficking across the border in FY 2025 to 2026 by continuing work to procure detection technology to identify and interdict firearms for use at strategic locations - including international airport facilities.

It will also continue the ongoing operational delivery of supporting detection technology at international postal processing facilities and major International airport facilities to streamline the inspection of mail and air cargo; maintaining facilities and training to support the CBSA’s increased detector dog team capacity to identify drugs and firearms at ports of entry through the least invasive means; and to support national training to enhance CBSA effectiveness to identify, detect, and interdict illicit gun trafficking.

Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP)

In FY 2025 to 2026, the RCMP will:

Contact information

Frédéric Chartrand
Director, Policy and Program Development Initiatives Unit
Public Safety Canada
frederic.chartrand@ps-sp.gc.ca

Shared Outcomes

Name of theme

Investing in Communities

Enhancing Federal Capacity

Enhancing Federal Leadership

Internal Services

Theme outcome(s)

Informed initiatives to prevent and respond to gun and gang violence are implemented across Canada

Enhanced operational responses through intervention, interdiction and enforcement

Stakeholder decision-making is supported by solid data and information on best practices

N/A

Public Safety Canada

$403,167,148

N/A

$7,346,418

$1,730,196

Royal Canadian Mounted Police

N/A

$33,696,140

N/A

$4,670,495

Canada Border Services Agency

N/A

$94,943,803

N/A

$5,412,367

Planning information (in dollars)

Horizontal initiative overview
Name of horizontal initiative Total federal funding allocated since last renewal [*] (dollars) 2025-26 planned spending (dollars) Horizontal initiative shared outcome(s) Performance indicator(s) Target(s) Date to achieve target

Initiative to Take Action Against Gun and Gang Violence (ITAAGGV)

$539,153,509

$97,046,220

Gun and gang violence is reduced Number of firearm-related homicides < 297 (Reduction from 2021 levels) March 2024, then annually
Number of gang-related homicides < 184 (Reduction from 2021 levels) March 2024, then annually

[*This amount includes any additional funding received after the last renewal. Where the initiative is new (with no renewal), insert the initial total allocation approved.]

Theme horizontal initiative activities

Theme 1 Details - Investing in Communities
Name of theme Total federal theme funding allocated since last renewal [*] (dollars) 2025-26 federal theme planned spending (dollars) Theme outcome(s) Theme performance indicator(s) Theme target(s) Date to achieve theme target

Investing in Communities

$403,167,148

$80,974,462

Informed initiatives to respond to gun and gang violence are implemented across Canada

Degree to which PT stakeholders report that Gun and Gang Violence Action Fund funding has enabled them to better respond to gun and gang violence in their jurisdictions (in %)

100% Annually
Percentage of recipients and project partners who have integrated knowledge from funded initiatives into their practice or decision-making ≥ 50% at project completion March 2028

[*This amount includes any additional funding received after the last renewal. Where the initiative is new (with no renewal), insert the initial total allocation approved.]

Theme 1 horizontal initiative Activities - Investing in Communities
Departments Link to department’s Program Inventory Horizontal initiative activity (activities) Total federal funding allocated to each horizontal initiative activity since last renewal [*] (dollars) 2025-26 planned spending for each horizontal initiative activity (dollars) 2025-26 horizontal initiative activity expected result(s) 2025-26 horizontal initiative activity performance indicator(s) 2025-26 horizontal initiative activity target(s) Date to achieve horizontal initiative activity target

Public Safety Canada

Crime Prevention Administer Grants and Contributions under the Youth Gang Prevention Fund and the Gun and Gang Violence Fund $403,167,148 $80,974,462 Communities have capacity to respond to gun and gang violence New resources dedicated to guns and gangs within law enforcement > 163 resources (FY 2021 to 2022) March 2024, then annually
Additional initiatives (e.g., law enforcement, prevention, intervention, action research) dedicated to responding to gun and gang violence are implemented ≥ 212 March 2024, then annually

[*This amount includes any additional funding received after the last renewal. Where the initiative is new (with no renewal), insert the initial total allocation approved.]

Theme 2 Details - Enhancing Federal Capacity
Name of theme Total federal theme funding allocated since last renewal [*] (dollars) 2025-26 Federal theme planned spending (dollars) Theme outcome(s) Theme performance indicator(s) Theme target(s) Date to achieve theme target

Enhancing Federal Capacity

$128,639,943

$13,622,952

Enhanced operational responses through intervention, interdiction and enforcement

Number of firearms or firearms parts seized Create benchmark in FY 2023 to 2024 based on a random sampling; and continue to maintain or exceed March 31, 2028
Number of intelligence products developed by Firearms Intelligence Analysts that identified or contributed to identifying possible criminal entities related to firearms, including smuggling 288 March 2028

[*This amount includes any additional funding received after the last renewal. Where the initiative is new (with no renewal), insert the initial total allocation approved.]

Theme 2 horizontal initiative Activities - Enhancing Federal Capacity

Departments

Link to department’s Program Inventory

Horizontal initiative activity (activities)

Total federal funding allocated to each horizontal initiative activity since last renewal [*] (dollars)

2025-26 planned spending for each horizontal initiative activity (dollars)

2025-26 horizontal initiative activity expected result(s)

2025-26 horizontal initiative activity performance indicator(s)

2025-26 horizontal initiative activity target(s)

Date to achieve horizontal initiative activity target

Canada Border Services Agency

Commercial-Trade Facilitation & Compliance

Intercept illicit guns in postal stream – Dual View X-Rays and Software / Network

$5,175,209

$779,944

Enhance ability to screen significantly increased volumes of mails items at all postal facilities

Percentage of packages being screened by the detection technology to be assessed whether they were high risk items, requiring an in depth examination

33% of mail items are being assessed for risk using detection technology

March 31, 2021

Field Technology Support

Intercept illicit guns in postal stream – Dual View X-Rays and Software / Network

$1,295,917

$118,837

Enhance ability to screen significantly increased volumes of mails items at all postal facilities

Percentage of packages being screened by the detection technology to be assessed whether they were high risk items, requiring an in depth examination

33% of mail items are being assessed for risk using detection technology

March 31, 2021

Force Generation

Intercept illicit guns in postal stream – Dual View X-Rays and Software / Network

$1,280,867

$34,139

Enhance ability to screen significantly increased volumes of mails items at all postal facilities

Percentage of packages being screened by the detection technology to be assessed whether they were high risk items, requiring an in depth examination

33% of mail items are being assessed for risk using detection technology

March 31, 2021

Intelligence Collection & Analysis

Intercept illicit guns in postal stream – Dual View X-Rays and Software / Network

$2,472,792

$102,083

Enhance ability to screen significantly increased volumes of mails items at all postal facilities

Percentage of international postal shipments screened using Fixed Postal Small Scale Imaging (SSI) technology which resulted in a referral/examination leading to a seizureFootnote2

5% increase with potential steady state in target to be adjusted accordingly

March 2022

Building and Equipment

Intercept illicit guns in postal stream – Dual View X-Rays and Software / Network

$414,094 $64,763

Enhance ability to screen significantly increased volumes of mails items at all postal facilities

Percentage of international postal shipments screened using Fixed Postal Small Scale Imaging (SSI) technology which resulted in a referral/examination leading to a seizure

5% increase with potential steady state in target to be adjusted accordingly

March 2022

Commercial-Trade Facilitation & Compliance

Force Generation

Detecting Firearms – Detector Dogs

$3,731,785

$664,123

Increased capacity to detect and interdict entry of illicit firearms into the country

Percentage of examinations utilizing Detector Dogs that resulted in a seizure of illicit firearmsFootnote3

Increase examinations by 155 in Year 2 and continue to maintain or exceed (using baseline information from CBSA data for FY 2017 to 2018)

March 31, 2020

Force Generation

Detecting Firearms – Detector Dogs

$1,443,178 $62,929

Increased capacity to detect and interdict entry of illicit firearms into the country

Percentage of examinations utilizing Detector Dogs that resulted in a seizure of illicit firearmsFootnote4

Increase examinations by 155 in Year 2 and continue to maintain or exceed (using baseline information from CBSA data for FY 2017 to 2018)

March 31, 2020

Building and Equipment

Detecting Firearms – Detector Dogs

$341,075 $66,016

Increased capacity to detect and interdict entry of illicit firearms into the country

Percentage of examinations utilizing Detector Dogs that resulted in a seizure of illicit firearmsFootnote5

Increase examinations by 155 in Year 2 and continue to maintain or exceed (using baseline information from CBSA data for FY 2017 to 2018)

March 31, 2020

Building and Equipment

Construction and maintenance of an All-Weather Facility Detector Dogs Training Facility

$12,241,409 $336,940

Increase CBSA capacity to accommodate detector dog training and kenneling needs, year round, while at the training facility resulting in a reduction in costs

Value of costs avoided for kenneling and accommodations at a separate facility by the Detector Dog Program

The construction of an All Weather Facility will provide cost avoidance and training efficiencies with an anticipated value of $77K per year for the CBSAFootnote6

Revamped capacities are TBD

March 31, 2024Footnote7

Targeting

Transnational Organized Crime Threat Identification – Interpol Interface

$6,310,185 $713,364

Enhance the CBSA’s thread identification capability in the public safety and national security threat sectors

Develop a pilot in conjunction with the RCMP that will test the efficacy of automating Interpol query for all inbound air travelers at screening and to bolster CBSA’s inbound air traveller risk assessment activities as they relate to the identification of members of transnational  organized crime membersFootnote8

N/AFootnote09

N/AFootnote10

Force Generation

Transnational Organized Crime Threat Identification – Interpol Interface

$483,139 $11,389

Enhance the CBSA’s thread identification capability in the public safety and national security threat sectors

Develop a pilot in conjunction with the RCMP that will test the efficacy of automating Interpol query for all inbound air travelers at screening and to bolster CBSA’s inbound air traveller risk assessment activities as they relate to the identification of members of transnational  organized crime members

N/AFootnote11

N/AFootnote12

Building and Equipment

Transnational Organized Crime Threat Identification – Interpol Interface

$30,959 $4,815

Enhance the CBSA’s thread identification capability in the public safety and national security threat sectors

Develop a pilot in conjunction with the RCMP that will test the efficacy of automating Interpol query for all inbound air travelers at screening and to bolster CBSA’s inbound air traveller risk assessment activities as they relate to the identification of members of transnational  organized crime members

N/AFootnote13

N/AFootnote14

Force Generation

Advanced Vehicles Concealment Techniques Course

$608,985 $79,622

Ability to identify, detect and interdict crime guns, weapons, narcotics and illicit proceeds of crime

Number of CBSA officers identified for training who have successfully completed trainingFootnote15

Post development: 2% of identified officers to be trained per yearFootnote16

March 2024Footnote17

Commercial-Trade Facilitation & Compliance

Enhance Air cargo security

Pallet Imaging, Handheld devices, COMETs and Trace Detection tools

$42,122,428 $1,469,541

Enable the CBSA to increase capacity to examine in the air mode

Percentage of high volume and high risk airports with detection technology installed

Year 1 – Post implementation: 20% of identified airports will be equipped with detection technologyFootnote18

March 2025

Force Generation

Enhance Air cargo security

Pallet imaging, handheld devices, COMETs and trace detection tools

$2,165,414 $30,507

Enable the CBSA to increase capacity to examine in the air mode

Percentage of high volume and high risk airports with detection technology installed

Year 1 – Post implementation: 20% of identified airports will be equipped with detection technologyFootnote19

March 2025

Field Technology Support

Enhance Air cargo security Pallet imaging, handheld devices, COMETs and trace detection tools

$13,812,661 $2,210,731

Enable the CBSA to increase capacity to examine in the air mode

Percentage of high volume and high risk airports with detection technology installed

Year 1 – Post implementation: 20% of identified airports will be equipped with detection technologyFootnote20

March 2025

Targeting

Pallet imaging, handheld devices, COMETs and trace detection tools

$345,044 $0

Enable the CBSA to increase capacity to examine in the air mode

Percentage of high volume and high risk airports with detection technology installed

Year 1 – Post implementation: 20% of identified airports will be equipped with detection technologyFootnote21

March 31, 2025

Building and Equipment

Enhance Air cargo security

Pallet imaging, handheld devices, COMETs and trace detection tools

$668,662

$133,927

Enable the CBSA to increase capacity to examine in the air mode

Percentage of high volume and high risk airports with detection technology installed

Year 1 – Post implementation: 20% of identified airports will be equipped with detection technologyFootnote22

March 2025

Internal Services

N/A

$5,407,094 $616,330

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

Royal Canadian Mounted Police

Federal Policing

National Intelligence

Produce intelligence products

$4,198,160 $839,632

Increased operational collaboration

Number of occurrences worked on by Firearms Intelligence Analysts that contributed to identifying possible criminal entities related to firearms smuggling.

288

March 2028

Criminal Intelligence Service Canada

Produce intelligence products

$1,235,285 $247,057

Increased operational collaboration

Number of intelligence reports produced by CISC that address guns and gangs

20Footnote23

March 2028

Canadian Firearms Investigative and Enforcement Services

Promote stakeholder engagement, collaboration and outreach

$4,566,845 $913,369

Increased operational collaboration

Number of open source intelligence reports created by the Canadian Firearms Program (CFP) and shared with partners

225

March 2028

Increased operational collaboration

Number of Firearm investigations that were initiated by intelligence products developed by the CFP

50Footnote24

March 2028

Build capacity to prevent and intercept illegal firearms in Canada

$21,670,250 $4,334,104

Enhanced capability to respond to gun and gang violence

The number of individuals that have received training from National Weapons Enforcement Support Teams (NWEST)

4500 Footnote25

March 2028

Canadian Law Enforcement Services - National Forensic Laboratory Services

Provide tools, equipment and training to prevent entry of illegal commodities

$2,025,600 $405,120

Enhanced capability to respond to gun and gang violence

Percentage of cartridge cases and bullets from Gun and Gang files uploaded to the Canadian Integrated Ballistics Identification Network (CIBIN) within 90 days

75%Footnote26

March 31, 2026

Internal Services

N/A

$4,670,495 $934,099

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

Theme 3 details - Enhancing Federal Leadership

Name of theme

Total federal theme funding allocated since last renewal [*] (dollars)

2025-26 Federal theme planned spending (dollars)

Theme outcome(s)

Theme performance indicator(s)

Theme target(s)

Date to achieve theme target

Enhancing Federal Leadership

$7,346,418

$2,448,806

Stakeholder decision-making is supported by solid data and information on best practices

Percentage of stakeholders reporting that research and information produced under the ITAAGGV informed their policy and operational decisions

93% in 2024-25

94% in 2025-26

95% in 2026-27

95% in 2027-28Footnote27

AnnualFootnote28

[*This amount includes any additional funding received after the last renewal. Where the initiative is new (with no renewal), insert the initial total allocation approved.]

Theme 3 horizontal initiative Activities - Enhancing Federal Leadership

Departments

Link to department’s Program Inventory

Horizontal initiative activity (activities)

Total federal funding allocated to each horizontal initiative activity since last renewal [*] (dollars)

2025-26 planned spending for each horizontal initiative activity (dollars)

2025-26 horizontal initiative activity expected result(s)

2025-26 horizontal initiative activity performance indicator(s)

2025-26 horizontal initiative activity target(s)

Date to achieve horizontal initiative activity target

Public Safety Canada

Law Enforcement

Promote data collection and conduct research related to gun and gang violence

$7,346,418

$2,448,806

Improved understanding of threats, challenges and opportunities

Percentage of police services with criminal organization flag data appearing in the Statistics Canada Juristat report compared to number of police services

> 85% in 2023-24

87% in 2024-25

89% in 2025-26

90% in 2026-27

91% in 2027-28Footnote29 

AnnuallyFootnote30

Number of hits on gun and gang violence items on Public Safety Canada website

≥ 7000 views in 2023-24 and increased on an annual basis

> 7000 hits in 2023-24

> 7500 hits in 2024-25

> 8000 hits in 2025-26

> 8500 hits in 2026-27

> 9000 hits in 2027-28Footnote31

AnnuallyFootnote32

Number of requests for download of reports and research published on Public Safety Canada’s website

2023-24 result with annual increase

> 6103 in 2023-24

> 6500 in 2024-25

> 7000 in 2025-26

> 7500 in 2026-27

> 8000 in 2027-28 Footnote33

AnnuallyFootnote34

Promote stakeholder engagement, collaboration and outreach

Improved awareness and information-sharing among stakeholders

Percentage of surveyed stakeholders that indicate they are aware of the ITAAGGV

> 93% in 2024-25

> 94% in 2025-26

> 95% in 2026-27

> 95% in 2027-28Footnote35

AnnuallyFootnote36

Percentage of stakeholders that have a positive view on the usefulness of research and information-sharing activities undertaken by Public Safety Canada related to gun and gang violence

85% in 2024-25

87% in 2025-26

89% in 2026-27

90% in 2027-28Footnote37

AnnuallyFootnote38

Internal Services

N/A

$1,730,196

$555,284

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

Total spending, all themes

Theme

Total federal funding allocated since last renewal (dollars) [*]

2025-26 total federal planned spending (dollars)

Theme 1: Investing in Communities

$403,167,148

$80,974,462

Theme 2: Enhancing Federal Capacity

$128,639,943

$13,622,952

Theme 3: Enhancing Federal Leadership

$7,346,418

$2,448,806

Sub-total

$539,153,509

$97,046,220

Internal Services

$11,813,058

$2,105,713

Total

$550,966,567

$99,151,933

[*This amount includes any additional funding received after the last renewal. Where the initiative is new (with no renewal), insert the initial total allocation approved.

Funding to Enhance Canada’s Firearm Control Framework

General information

Name of horizontal initiative

Funding to Enhance Canada’s Firearm Control Framework (FECFCF)

Lead department

Public Safety Canada (PS)

Federal partner department(s)

Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP)

Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA)

Note: Other government departments (e.g., the Department of Justice) are supporting this federal initiative. However they are not captured in this Horizontal Initiative table as they have not received funding through this initiative.

Start date

FY 2021 to 2022

End date

FY 2025 to 2026

Description

Escalating firearms-related violence is fueling public concern and giving rise to demands for federal action to curtail the availability of firearms in Canada. The Government has committed to implementing effective firearms-related measures that prioritize public safety to maintain legal access, use and ownership of firearms, prevent the misuse of firearms and reduce gun crime and criminal activity. A balanced approach is required to ensure that efforts to reduce violent crime are focused on those who use firearms for illicit purposes, while not impeding on legal firearm owners.

The shared outcomes for this initiative are as follows:

PS provides federal leadership on Canada’s firearms policies, laws, and regulations. Since firearms control is a shared responsibility between the federal government and Canada’s provinces and territories (PTs), the Department also engages and collaborates with its federal partners, PTs, and stakeholders to address firearm-related matters.

Several programs in the RCMP contribute directly to this horizontal initiative. The RCMP is responsible for operations of the Canada Firearms Program (CFP) and the administration of the Firearms Act (the Act) and its regulations. It also provides direct operational and technical firearms-related support to law enforcement across Canada and abroad. The CFP’s mission is to enhance public safety by supporting lawful ownership and use of firearms so as to reduce the risk of harm that results when firearms are misused. To this end, it provides a number of important services to Canadians including screening individuals for eligibility to possess and/or acquire a firearm, licensing businesses that manufacture and sell firearms, and registering restricted and prohibited firearms. Additional support is provided by: National Forensic Laboratory, which can restore serial numbers that aid tracing efforts as well as link seemingly unrelated criminal cases to a single firearm; Criminal Intelligence Service Canada (CISC) and its intelligence holdings on known or suspected criminals and criminal groups involved in serious or organized crime, which are accessible to over 380 federal, provincial, and municipal law enforcement and public safety member agencies across Canada; and Federal Policing’s efforts to develop intelligence related to transnational organized crime groups activities related to firearms trafficking and smuggling activities. 

The CBSA plays a critical role in detecting and interdicting illicit firearms entering Canada. The CBSA contributes to the Government’s firearm-related commitments through the implementation of a Firearms Strategy focusing on the identification, disruption, interdiction, enforcement, investigation and prosecution of illicit firearms and related activities using an intelligence-led, problem solving and integrated approach. The Firearms Strategy also focuses on partnerships with domestic and international partners in combatting the threat that firearms pose to our community.

Governance structure

The FECFCF will leverage an Assistant Deputy Minister-level committee, co-chaired by Public Safety Canada (PS), with participation from the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) as the Oversight Committee for the initiative. The ADM-Committee currently meets monthly, but will transition to quarterly once governance and oversight over relevant initiatives is firmly established. The role of the Committee will include reviewing the status of various activities within the FECFCF and progress made in meeting performance targets; making direct adjustments if necessary; and providing overall direction to the implementation of the horizontal initiative.

Additionally, a working group which includes representatives from PS, RCMP, and CBSA has been working together in the development of the FECFCF, including by developing the results measurement strategy. Going forward, PS will formalize this working group to ensure that its membership reflects the specializations required in order to ensure excellence in programming, results, financial planning and reporting. The frequency of meetings of this group will reflect the schedule and frequency of the ADM-level Oversight Committee to ensure that systems are in place to support effective horizontal planning and reporting. The working group will also support the ADM-level Oversight Committee.

Total federal funding allocated from start to end date (dollars)   

$206,423,296

Total federal planned spending to date (dollars)     

$95,535,645

Total federal actual spending to date (dollars)

$78,488,504 as per DRR 2023 to 2024  

Date of last renewal of initiative

N/A – No renewal

Total federal funding allocated at last renewal and source of funding (dollars)         

N/A – No renewal

Additional federal funding received after last renewal (dollars)  

N/A – No renewal

Total planned spending since last renewal   

N/A – No renewal

Total actual spending since last renewal       

N/A – No renewal

Fiscal year of planned completion of next evaluation

An evaluation of the Funding to Enhance Canada’s Firearm Control Framework is planned to be completed in FY 2026 to 2027.

Planning highlights

Public Safety Canada (PS)

In FY 2025 to 2026, Public Safety Canada will continue to implement former Bill C-21, An Act to amend certain Acts and to make certain consequential amendments (firearms), which received Royal Assent on December 15, 2023. PS will create regulations to support the coming into force of the licence suspension regime, also known as “yellow flag” laws. The new regime will require a firearms licence to be temporarily suspended if the is reasonable grounds to believe that the person is no longer eligible to hold a firearms licence (i.e., suspected of illegally reselling firearms). Further, PS will bring forward regulations to support the implementation of enhanced licence revocation measures that require a licence to be revoked when a person is subject to a protection order or there is reasonable grounds to believe that a person has engaged in domestic violence or stalking. This includes defining “protection orders” and making regulations prescribe the circumstances in which a conditional firearms licence may be issued to a person to hunt or trap to sustain themselves or their family.

Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP)

In FY 2025 to 2026, the RCMP will:

Canadian Border Services Agency (CBSA)

The CBSA will provide investigative leads to better position the Agency and its law enforcement partners to ensure a more agile response to organized firearm smuggling activities. To address policy, legislative and regulatory issues surrounding the movement of firearms and weapons, the CBSA will continue working closely with other government departments to support the firearms strategy outlined in former Bill C-21, An Act to amend certain Acts and to make certain consequential amendments (firearms). 

Contact information

Firearms Policy Division
firearms-armesafeu.sp@ps-sp.gc.ca

Shared Outcomes

Name of theme

Strengthen services to support the lawful acquisition, ownership and use of firearms

Combat illegal firearm-related activities

Enhance firearms policy advice and promote awareness of firearm programs

Internal Services

Theme outcome(s)

Canadians and law enforcement benefit from easier access to and improved delivery of firearms regulatory services

Illegal firearm-related activity in Canada is reduced

Canadian communities are safe from firearm-related crime

N/A

Public Safety Canada

N/A

N/A $12,209,310 N/A

Canada Border Services Agency

N/A $30,202,664 N/A $5,541,196

Royal Canadian Mounted Police

$76,148,388 $52,575,988 $1,589,126 $28,156,624

Planning information (in dollars)

Horizontal initiative overview

Name of horizontal initiative

Total federal funding allocated since last renewal [*] (dollars)

2025-26 planned spending (dollars)

Horizontal initiative shared outcome(s)

Performance indicator(s)

Target(s)

Date to achieve target

Enhance Canada’s Firearm Control Framework

$172,725,476

$27,936,533

Firearm-related crime in Canada is reduced

Percent (%) decrease of police reported break and enter to steal a firearm from a residence or motor vehicle

2% annual decrease against baseline (1,072 incidents reported in 2019)

Annually

Percent (%) decrease in the # of violent crime victims as a result of firearm violence

1% reduction from current baseline of approximately 1,500 (2016)

Annually

Percent (%) decrease of firearm-related homicides

1.5% annual decrease against baseline (2019: 263)

Annually

Percent (%) decrease in the # of intimate partner violence victims where a firearm was present

1% reduction from current baseline of 576 (2018)

Annually

[*This amount includes any additional funding received after the last renewal. Where the initiative is new (with no renewal), insert the initial total allocation approved.]

 

Theme 1 Details  - Strengthen services to support the lawful acquisition, ownership and use of firearms

Name of theme

Total federal theme funding allocated since last renewal [*] (dollars)

2025-26 federal theme planned spending  (dollars)

Theme outcome(s)

Theme performance indicator(s)

Theme target(s)

Date to achieve theme target

Strengthen services to support the lawful acquisition, ownership and use of firearms

$76,148,388

$13,251,792

Canadians and law enforcement benefit from easier access to and improved delivery of firearms regulatory services

Percent (%) of licence applications that are processed within established service standards

90% of licence applications that do not require further review complete initial processing within 35 days

FY 2025 to 2026

[*This amount includes any additional funding received after the last renewal. Where the initiative is new (with no renewal), insert the initial total allocation approved.]

Theme 1 horizontal initiative Activities - Strengthen services to support the lawful acquisition, ownership and use of firearms

Departments

Link to department’s Program Inventory

Horizontal initiative activity (activities)

Total federal funding allocated to each horizontal initiative activity since last renewal [*] (dollars)

2025-26 planned spending for each horizontal initiative activity (dollars)

2025-26 horizontal initiative activity expected result(s)

2025-26 horizontal initiative activity performance indicator(s)

2025-26 horizontal initiative activity target(s)

Date to achieve horizontal initiative activity target

Royal Canadian Mounted Police

Canadian Firearms Program (CFP)

Enhance delivery of CFP services to Canadians and Law Enforcement

$48,257,850

$9,536,769

Additional regulatory services are available online

Percent (%) of services to Canadians that are newly available online

100% individual & 75% business services available onlineFootnote39

FY 2025 to 2026

The target population uses regulatory services online

Percent (%) of newly available services to Canadians that are accessed online

80% individual

50% businessFootnote40

FY 2025 to 2026

Canadians benefit from easy access to regulatory services

Percent (%) of licence applications that are processed within established service standards

90% of licence applications that do not require further review complete initial processing within 35 days

FY 2025 to 2026

IM / IT Sector

Enhance delivery of CFP services to Canadians and Law Enforcement

$27,890,538

$3,715,023

Canadian Firearms Digital Services Solution replaces Canadian Firearms Information System with a reliable and readily adaptable firearms regulatory IM/IT platform

Percent (%) of times CFP IT Service Desk incidents are resolved within 4 hours (reliability)

80%

(2020: 44%)

FY 2025 to 2026

Percent (%) of application that is covered by automated testing tools for Quality Control (adaptability)

100%

(2020: 0%)

FY 2025 to 2026

[*This amount includes any additional funding received after the last renewal. Where the initiative is new (with no renewal), insert the initial total allocation approved.]

Theme 2 Details - Combat illegal firearm-related activities

Name of theme

Total federal theme funding allocated since last renewal [*] (dollars)

2025-26 Federal theme planned spending (dollars)

Theme outcome(s)

Theme performance indicator(s)

Theme target(s)

Date to achieve theme target

Combat illegal firearm-related activities

$82,778,652

$13,478,322

Illegal firearm-related activity in Canada is reduced

Percent (%) increase in the number of firearms seizures attributed to deliberate smuggling and in postal and courier modes

10% smuggling, 5% postal and courier modes

March 2026

Percent (%) change in the number of police-reported incidents of weapons trafficking

10% annual increase for 2-3 years, followed by a 10% annual decrease ongoing (Baseline: 20 incidents in 2020)

FY 2025 to 2026

[*This amount includes any additional funding received after the last renewal. Where the initiative is new (with no renewal), insert the initial total allocation approved.]

Theme 2 horizontal initiative Activities - Combat illegal firearm-related activities

Departments

Link to department’s Program Inventory

Horizontal initiative activity (activities)

Total federal funding allocated to each horizontal initiative activity since last renewal [*] (dollars)

2025-26 planned spending for each horizontal initiative activity (dollars)

2025-26 horizontal initiative activity expected result(s)

2025-26 horizontal initiative activity performance indicator(s)

2025-26 horizontal initiative activity target(s)

Date to achieve horizontal initiative activity target

Royal Canadian Mounted Police

Canadian Firearms Program

Enhance the ability of the RCMP to trace crime guns and detect bulk/straw purchasing

$6,735,964

$1,585,034

Law enforcement agencies use regulatory services to combat the unlawful acquisition of firearms

Percent (%) increase in the number of trace requests received annually by the Canadian National Firearms Tracing Centre

10-20% increase in the number of trace requests received annually by Canadian National Firearms Tracing Centre

FY 2025 to 2026Footnote41

Law enforcement agencies requests for regulatory services are completed within established service standards

Percent (%) of Canadian National Firearms Tracing Centre trace requests completed within established service standard timelines

90% of trace requests completed:

- Within 7 days (for traces where international engagement is not required); or

- Within 90 days (for traces where international engagement is required)

Achieved March 31, 2024Footnote42

National Forensic Laboratory Services

Enhance the ability of the RCMP to trace crime guns and detect bulk/straw purchasing

$6,957,156

$1,397,958

More serial number restorations and Canadian Integrated Ballistics Identification Network comparisons are completed within 90 days

Percent (%) of serial number restorations and Canadian Integrated Ballistics Identification Network comparisons that are completed within service standard timelines (90 days)

80%Footnote43

Achieved March 31, 2024Footnote44

Canadian Firearms Program

Enhance capacity of the RCMP to detect, disrupt, and deter firearms smuggling at the border and inland

$1,451,501

$338,905

Support provided to counter-smuggling partner organizations

Number (#) of firearm inspections, responses to requests for technical advice pertaining to new and emerging technologies including 3D printing, and Firearms Reference Table records completed annually in accordance with established service standard timelines

Complete 280-300 firearm inspections of firearms and related devices annually

Service approximately 10,340 requests per year, an increase of over 1,800 from a baseline of 8,517 in 2019

Create or modify 5,000 to 8,000 Firearms Reference Table records annually

Achieved March 31, 2024Footnote45

Federal Policing

Enhance capacity of the RCMP to detect, disrupt, and deter firearms smuggling at the border and inland

$2,120,337

$543,184

Enhanced operational responses through intervention, interdiction, enforcement, and increased operational collaboration

Number (#) of intelligence products developed by Firearms Intelligence Analysts that identified or contributed to identifying possible criminal entities related to firearms, including smuggling

192

FY 2027 to 2028

Number (#) of occurrences (e.g. investigations or intelligence probes) worked on by Firearms Intelligence Analysts that contributed to identifying possible criminal entities related to firearms smuggling

192

FY 2027 to 2028

Criminal Intelligence Services Canada (CISC)

Enhance capacity of the RCMP to detect, disrupt, and deter firearms smuggling at the border and inland

$1,867,894

$436,880

Increase in the number of CISC assessed organized crime groups involved in firearms smuggling and trafficking

Proportion (%) of organized crime groups involved in firearms smuggling and trafficking that are assessed based on CISC’s Integrated Threat Assessment Process

75%

(Baseline: 16%)

FY 2025 to 2026Footnote46

$33,443,136

$3,562,112

Enhance the ability of CISC members to target and coordinate enforcement operations related to Serious and Organized Crime, including firearms-related crime

Number (#) of Canadian Criminal Intelligence System document uploads

Number (#) of Canadian Criminal Intelligence System queries and number (#) of Canadian Criminal Intelligence System users

Target will be established once Canadian Criminal Intelligence System is implementedFootnote47

Date to achieve target will be established once Canadian Criminal Intelligence System is implemented

Canada Border Services Agency

Criminal Investigations

Intelligence Collection & Analysis

Building & Equipment

Force GenerationFootnote48

Enhanced Intelligence and Investigative Capacity

$14,171,385

$2,971,380

Firearm smuggling is reduced in Canada

Percent (%) increase in the number of seizures of prima facie crime guns (as defined in CBSA’s analytical lexicon), including as applicable, firearms, firearm parts, and ammunitionFootnote49

10%

March 2025Footnote50

Percent (%) increase in the number of firearms seizures in postal and courier modes

5%

March 2025Footnote51

Number (#) of seizures of firearms, parts, and ammunition with a suspected link to organized crime

5

March 31, 2025

The CBSA detects, disrupts and deters the smuggling of firearms

Number (#) of complex or high-risk firearms smuggling intelligence referrals to Criminal Investigations or law enforcement partners

5

March 2025

Percent (%) increase in the number of CBSA firearms analytical intelligence products

10%

March 2025Footnote52

Number (#) of complex firearms smuggling investigations opened by the CBSA Criminal Investigations

33Footnote53

March 2025Footnote54

The CBSA has the capacity to detect, disrupt and deter the smuggling of firearms

Personnel identified, hired and trained. Terms of reference and outreach completed

8 Full-Time Equivalents (FTEs)

Completed

(FTEs are fully operational)Footnote55

Personnel identified, hired and trained

14 Full-Time Equivalents (FTEs)

Completed

(FTEs are fully operational)Footnote56

Legislative, regulatory and policy development

$7,176,014

$1,586,884

Senior management and officials understand the impact of federal firearms legislative, regulatory and policy developments on the CBSA’s operations

Number (#) of firearms-related briefing products provided to CBSA senior management and officials

10

June 2025Footnote57

The CBSA’s legislative and regulatory authorities allow it to support broader government direction and intent concerning the cross-border movement of firearms

Number (#) of new and amended laws enacted and regulations established

2

June 2025Footnote58

Field Technology Support

Threat Detection at Borders

$7,289,850

$1,055,985

Deploy handheld X-rays to increase operational capacity to efficiently examine goods and conveyances

20 handheld X-ray units will be deployed and officers trained at selected ports of entry

20 units

CompletedFootnote59

Comm. Trade  Facilitation & Compliance

Artificial Intelligence (AI) Identification and AI Threat Detection in Parcels

$1,565,415

$0

Developed AI solution ensures successful detection of gun and gun parts with significant reliability of minimizing false positives and negatives

Percent (%) of times the developed model is able to accurately recognize the presence or absence of items of interest in an image

70%Footnote60

CompletedFootnote61

Internal Services

N/A

$5,541,196

$1,239,726

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

[*This amount includes any additional funding received after the last renewal. Where the initiative is new (with no renewal), insert the initial total allocation approved.]

Theme 3 Details - Enhance firearms policy advice and promote awareness of firearm programs

Name of theme

Total federal theme funding allocated since last renewal [*] (dollars)

2025-26 federal theme planned spending  (dollars)

Theme outcome(s)

Theme performance indicator(s)

Theme target(s)

Date to achieve theme target

Enhance firearms policy advice and promote awareness of firearm programs

$13,798,436

$1,206,419

Canadian communities are safe from firearm –related crime

Number (#) of new and amended laws developed and regulations established

3 per year baseline (FY 2020-21)

Annually

Number (#) of Canadians who indicate they have or will take action due to viewing/hearing the awareness campaign ads

Meet or surpass 10% of polled respondents indicating that they took action as a result of the ads

March 31, 2024

[*This amount includes any additional funding received after the last renewal. Where the initiative is new (with no renewal), insert the initial total allocation approved.]

 

Theme 3 horizontal initiative Activities - Enhance firearms policy advice and promote awareness of firearm programs

Departments

Link to department’s Program Inventory

Horizontal initiative activity (activities)

Total federal funding allocated to each horizontal initiative activity since last renewal [*] (dollars)

2025-26 planned spending for each horizontal initiative activity (dollars)

2025-26 horizontal initiative activity expected result(s)

2025-26 horizontal initiative activity performance indicator(s)

2025-26 horizontal initiative activity target(s)

Date to achieve horizontal initiative activity target

Public Safety Canada

Law Enforcement and Policing

Public Awareness Campaign

$4,388,244

$0

Canadian general population are aware of GC initiatives to reduce gun violence and new laws and regulations related to firearms in Canada.

Number (#) of Canadians who can recall seeing a firearms-related ad

Meet or surpass GC benchmarks for campaign specific unaided recall (33%) and aided recall (30%)

March 31, 2024

Number (#) of impressions (the total number of campaign content that was displayed or broadcast) across all advertising platforms

Achieve or surpass 2 million impressions across all advertising platforms annually

March 31, 2024

Number (#) of times Canadians clicked through ads to the Canada.ca/firearms website

Achieve or surpass GC benchmark for click through rate by 1% for digital advertising during campaign

March 31, 2024

Number (#) of visits to the Canada.ca/firearms website

Achieve or surpass 75,000 visits per year

March 31, 2024

Number (#) of products downloaded or ordered for use by partners

Achieve or surpass 100 units distributed to or downloaded by partners

March 31, 2024

The Canadian general population take action to address factors contributing to firearms violence in Canada

Number (#) of Canadians who indicate they have or will take action due to viewing/hearing the awareness campaign ads

Meet or surpass 10% of polled respondents indicating that they took action as a result of the ads

March 31, 2024

Number (#) of partners engaged through official MOUs and/or alternate partnership agreements

Achieve or surpass at least one partnership in each of the following categories:

1. Retail; and

2. Non-profit government organization

March 31, 2024

Number (#) of times Canadians engage or share campaign content on social media

Achieve or surpass 500 engagements on shares on social media (X, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, etc.)

March 31, 2024

The Canadian general population are compliant with laws and regulations related to firearms in Canada

Number (#) of adults charged with unsafe storage of a firearm

5% decrease from baseline (2019: 394)

March 31, 2026

Legislative and Regulatory Work

$6,571,066

$956,419

Stakeholders and partners participate in policy development and law enforcement and policing initiatives

Percent (%) of attendance at formal meetings involving stakeholders and partners that take place regularly

80%

Annually

Senior management and officials understand the issues and trends on firearms-related crime, and the policy and regulatory options to address issues

Number (#) of policy and decision making documents developed

10

Annually

Number (#) of policy documents that reference research evidence

40

Annually

Legislation is developed establishing regulations to promote lawful access, use and ownership of firearms

Number (#) of new and amended laws developed and regulations established

3 per year

Annually

Law Enforcement and Policing

Research

$1,250,000

$250,000

Statistics Canada have the capacity to conduct metrics-related activities and produce reports on firearms-related crime

Percent (%) budget utilization (StatsCan)

100%

FY 2024 to 2025

Statistics Canada conduct metrics-related activities and produce reports on firearms-related crime

Number (#) of new datasets created

9

FY 2024 to 2025

Number (#) of knowledge products produced on firearms-related crime

82

FY 2024 to 2025

Canadians have access to timely and accurate information on firearms-related crime

Number (#) of downloads of Statistics Canada Data Tables on firearms-related crime

4,727

FY 2024 to 2025

Number (#) of downloads of Statistics Canada Publications on firearms-related crime

4,133

FY 2024 to 2025

Number (#) of page views of Statistics Canada Data Tables on firearms-related crime

168,906

FY 2024 to 2025

Number (#) of page views of Statistics Canada Publications on firearms-related crime

187,186

FY 2024 to 2025

Internal Services

N/A

$8,520,544

$1,259,731

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

Royal Canadian Mounted Police

Canadian Firearms Program

Legislative and Regulatory Work

$723,292

$0

RCMP support to the PS-led development of policy instruments to seek funding for the firearms buyback program

PS-led Memorandum to Cabinet is considered by Cabinet Ministers

100%

Completed in FY 2022 to 2023Footnote62

Strategic Policy & Integration

Legislative and Regulatory Work

$168,789

$0

RCMP support to the PS-led development of policy instruments to seek funding for the firearms buyback program

PS-led Memorandum to Cabinet is considered by Cabinet Ministers

100%

Completed in FY 2022 to 2023Footnote63

IM/IT Sector

Legislative and Regulatory Work

$697,045

$0

RCMP support to the PS-led development of policy instruments to seek funding for the firearms buyback program

PS-led Treasury Board Submission is considered by Treasury Board Ministers

100%

Completed in FY 2022 to 2023Footnote64

Internal Services

All Themes

$19,636,080

$2,762,213

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

[*This amount includes any additional funding received after the last renewal. Where the initiative is new (with no renewal), insert the initial total allocation approved.]

Total spending, all themes

Theme

Total federal funding allocated since last renewal [*] (dollars)

2025-26 total federal planned spending (dollars)

Theme 1:  Strengthen services to support the lawful acquisition, ownership and use of firearms

$76,148,388

$13,251,792

Theme 2:  Combat illegal firearm-related activities

$82,778,652

$13,478,322

Theme 3: Enhance firearms policy advice and promote awareness of firearm programs

$13,798,436

$1,206,419

Subtotal

$172,725,476

$27,936,533

Internal Services

$33,697,820

$5,261,670

Total

$206,423 296

$33,198,203

Date modified: