Ottawa, Ontario – Cheryl Gallant, MP for Renfrew—Nipissing—Pembroke, is today reminding local gun owners of the upcoming end to the fee waiver program for firearms licence renewals.
“I am reminding local hunters, collectors, and sport shooters of the previously announced end to the firearms licence fee waiver program. Non-restricted POL or PAL licence holders whose renewals are due before May 15, 2014, may renew their licences for free until May 16, 2013. I encourage the shooting community to take advantage of this program and apply for a licence renewal while the waiver is still in effect,” said MP Gallant.
Licence owners are advised to send their applications in early in order to avoid the renewal fee, which has been reinstated in efforts to balance the federal budget by 2015.
“In this climate of fiscal restraint, the government has chosen to end the waiver program,” said MP Gallant.
“I continue to support efforts to streamline all aspects of the firearms regulatory system, reducing the burden on taxpayers and licence holders alike. My motion M-439 seeks to transfer the functions and operation of the Canadian Firearms Registration System to a civilian agency. The savings realized by my motion could be used to lower fees for licence holders,” declared Gallant.
Two other measures designed to encourage compliance with firearms regulations will be extended by a further year.
“Shooters with expired POL licences are again being offered the opportunity to renew without upgrading to a PAL as the law requires. This measure, together with the amnesty on criminal charges for expired POL holders, will encourage former licence holders to comply with existing legislation without fear of being unfairly criminalized.”
Both the POL renewal measure and criminal amnesty will expire May 16, 2014.