The Canadian Sporting Arms and Ammunition Association (CSAAA) received a letter from Mr. Robert Freberg, Commissioner at the Saskatchewan Firearms Office. This letter was shared with our members and is warning firearm businesses in Saskatchewan about the risks of participating in the firearm confiscation program.

This letter addresses comments made by Assistant Deputy Minister Greg Kenney of Public Safety Canada at a Senate committee meeting on September 24, 2024. The comments reiterates that the government is preparing to confiscate firearms affected by the May 1, 2020, order-in-council, beginning with business inventories.

However, under the Saskatchewan Firearms Act, there are no organizations or individuals currently licensed to handle these firearms on behalf of the federal government. This means no seizure agent licenses have been issued yet, making it illegal for couriers or shippers to receive these firearms for confiscation. Furthermore, the current amnesty order only allows firearms to be shipped for destruction or deactivation, not commerce.

The letter warns of the penalties for noncompliance and urges members to stay informed about their obligations under the Saskatchewan Firearms Act. It emphasizes the need for clarity from Public Safety Canada on how they plan to collect firearms in a manner that complies with the provincial law.

“Noncompliance with the Saskatchewan Firearms Act can result in penalties of up to $20,000 for an individual and $100,000 for a corporation. The Saskatchewan Firearms Office has no desire to hinder your members from obtaining value for their inventory. To date Public Safety Canada has not informed us of how they intend to collect firearms from Saskatchewan based businesses in a manner which complies with the Act.”

CSAAA will continue to keep businesses informed as there are new developments and changes. Please contact us at [email protected] or 705-875-2302 if there are any questions or concerns.