Canada Launches Comprehensive Review of Firearms Classification Regime, Including SKS Rifle Consultations

Federal Government Initiates Firearms Classification Review

Public Safety Minister Gary Anandasangaree announced on December 5, 2025, that the federal government will proceed with a comprehensive review of Canada's firearms classification regime. This initiative, first outlined in March, aims to modernize the legal framework governing firearms, ammunition, and magazines, with a focus on achieving greater simplicity and consistency.

The review will specifically include dedicated consultations with Indigenous communities concerning the classification of the SKS rifle. This move comes as part of broader efforts to enhance public safety and address recommendations from significant inquiries.

Scope and Objectives of the Review

The classification review is designed to take a broad view of the existing legal framework. According to Minister Anandasangaree, the primary objectives are to modernize the regime and ensure the safety of Canadians. The process will emphasize simplicity and consistency in how firearms are categorized.

This review directly addresses a recommendation made more than two years ago by the Mass Casualty Commission. The Commission, which investigated the April 2020 Nova Scotia shooting spree that resulted in 22 fatalities, called for reforms to the classification system. Minister Anandasangaree affirmed that 'Perspectives of firearms experts, Indigenous peoples, industry, firearms owners and hunters will be integral to its success.'

The SKS Rifle: A Point of Contention

A central element of the upcoming consultations involves the SKS semi-automatic rifle. This firearm is widely utilized by Indigenous communities across Canada for hunting and sustenance. However, the SKS has also been cited in connection with police killings and other high-profile shootings, leading to calls for its reclassification.

Gun control advocacy groups, such as PolySeSouvient, have been critical of the government for not including the SKS in previous lists of banned firearms. These groups have advocated for the prohibition of the SKS, with some suggesting an exemption for Indigenous hunters who rely on the rifle for traditional practices. Currently, the SKS is classified as a non-restricted firearm in Canada, requiring a valid Possession and Acquisition License (PAL) for ownership. It was notably excluded from the list of 179 models prohibited in March 2025.

Broader Context of Canadian Firearms Control

The review is part of ongoing efforts by the Canadian government to strengthen firearms control. Since May 2020, approximately 2,500 types of guns, identified as 'battlefield' weapons, have been outlawed. A federal buyback program has been established to provide fair compensation to owners of these prohibited firearms, with a budget exceeding $700 million.

Furthermore, the government is implementing stronger classification requirements, mandating that domestic manufacturers and importers share technical information with the Registrar of Firearms for classification before any firearms enter the Canadian market. While gun control advocates generally support stricter measures, firearm rights organizations, including the Canadian Coalition for Firearm Rights, have voiced concerns that the perspectives of lawful gun owners are often 'devalued and discarded' by the current government.