Groups urge PM to fully enact key firearm measure

Groups advocating for stricter gun control measures have intensified pressure on Prime Minister Mark Carney to fully implement a critical component of firearms legislation enacted nearly two and a half years ago. This provision aims to prevent individuals under protection orders—legal directives commonly used in cases of intimate partner violence—from holding firearms licenses during the duration of such orders. The intent behind this measure is to swiftly remove access to guns from abusers, particularly during periods when they pose the greatest threat.

According to the government, the implementation of this provision requires defining the term "protection order" within regulatory frameworks and establishing necessary record-keeping and reporting protocols. Advocacy groups, however, argue that the government's proposed interpretation of "protection order" is too narrow, potentially excluding specific types of criminal protection orders such as bail release orders and probation orders. These groups contend that such exclusions create an arbitrary and perilous distinction, leaving some victims without adequate safeguards simply due to procedural nuances rather than the actual risk posed by the abuser.

The call for action comes from a coalition of organizations, including the National Association of Women and the Law, PolySeSouvient, Danforth Families for Safe Communities, Canadian Doctors for Protection from Guns, the Canadian Femicide Observatory for Justice and Accountability, and the Quebec Mosque. In a joint media statement, these groups urged the Liberal government to expedite the implementation of the measure without further delay and to adopt a broader definition of "protection order." They emphasized that the original intent of the legislation, passed in December 2023, was to shield women and children from intimate partner gun violence by ensuring that anyone under a protection order could not retain a firearms license and that existing licenses would be automatically revoked.

The National Association of Women and the Law, in its analysis supported by the other groups, highlighted that Parliament intentionally crafted a broad definition of "protection order" in the bill to encompass any binding civil or criminal order aimed at safeguarding an individual's safety or security. Despite this legislative clarity, the government has opted for a narrower approach, which critics argue undermines the very purpose of the law. The analysis warns that this discrepancy could result in situations where one victim receives automatic protection through license revocation, while another faces similar risks but lacks comparable safeguards due to the nature of the legal proceedings against the abuser.

Suzanne Zaccour, director of legal affairs at the National Association of Women and the Law, expressed frustration over the current situation, stating that it is illogical for some survivors to benefit from protective measures while others do not, based solely on procedural technicalities rather than the severity of the danger faced. She underscored the point that the lethality of violence remains unchanged regardless of the stage at which it is addressed within the legal system.

Public Safety Canada concluded its public consultation on the proposed regulations in early March. Public Safety Minister Gary Anandasangaree mentioned in a recent interview that considerable effort has been invested in the process and that the government anticipates having the regulations finalized by late September. As the deadline approaches, the ongoing debate between advocacy groups and the government regarding the scope of "protection order" definitions continues to shape the discourse around firearm control policies in Canada.