As a result of their deliberations committees may make recommendations which they include in their reports for the consideration of the House of Commons or the Government. Recommendations related to this study are listed below.

Recommendation 1

That the Government of Canada create and fund an interdisciplinary National Centre of Excellence dedicated to collecting Canadian specific data and conducting research on firearms violence.

Recommendation 2

That the Government of Canada provide additional resources to Statistics Canada and law enforcement agencies to ensure consistency in the collection of data related to firearms smuggling, the use of firearms in the commission of a crime, and the use of firearms in gang-related crime.

Recommendation 3

That the Government of Canada update the federal firearms program to require police agencies to submit for tracing firearms that were acquired by police in relation to criminal activity or sent in for destruction.

Recommendation 4

That the Government of Canada create uniform standards for tracing firearms involved in the commission of a crime, and that police services be adequately resourced in order to enhance tracing capabilities.

Recommendation 5

That the Government of Canada mandate the Royal Canadian Mounted Police to implement effective ongoing training for Royal Canadian Mounted Police officers to close gaps within current Canadian National Firearms Tracing Centre’s efforts.

Recommendation 6

That the Government of Canada increase funding for the Canadian Criminal Intelligence Service to enable comprehensive intelligence sharing across all police services in Canada to improve their effectiveness in tracing firearms and combatting organized and gang-related crime.

Recommendation 7

That the Government of Canada focus on diverting youth and young adults from gang culture as an effective measure to prevent gun and gang violence and to prevent young people from ending up in the justice system.

Recommendation 8

That the Government of Canada expand the National Crime Prevention Strategy to provide streamlined and stable funding for community organizations delivering culturally specific, key community social programs aimed at addressing the root causes of violence involving youth and young adults, such as:

• gang diversion programs focused on youth and young adults, particularly pre-gang involvement;
• gang diversion programs for Indigenous Peoples and racialized Canadians;
• gang exit programs that incorporate the experience of former gang members who can provide support and advice to individuals looking to leave gang life;
• victim-led and trauma informed community services designed to support families and communities recover from the violence of shootings.

Recommendation 9

That the Government of Canada recognize Indigenous community organizations engaged in gang diversion and community safety as policing services and fund these organizations to work on mental health services, peacekeeping, security, accountability and youth diversion in their respective communities.

Recommendation 10

That the Government of Canada host a National Gun and Gang Summit in Ottawa for community organizations working on preventing youth and young adults from being involved in gang activities and assisting those already involved to exit this lifestyle.

Recommendation 11

That the Government of Canada recognize that serious crimes involving firearms and drug trafficking should bear serious penalties given the threat to public safety, and that violent offenders should be kept off our streets to protect the public, while a public health response should be adopted to deal with people suffering from substance abuse.

Recommendation 12

That the Government of Canada:

• recognize that the high profitability of the illicit drug trade, which contributes to the opioid epidemic in Canada, gives rise to gun and gang violence, as well as the illicit tobacco trade;
• recognize the need for greater funding for public education to reduce stigma associated with substance abuse and addiction, treat trauma, and expand access to treatment, and recovery services;
• study the role of harm reduction in preventing gun and gang violence; and
• increase support to divert individuals suffering from addiction from being involved in the criminal justice system in favour of rehabilitation.

Recommendation 13

That the Government of Canada decriminalize the simple possession of all illicit drugs as called upon by the Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police and public health officials, in consultations with provincial authorities and other stakeholders, while not impeding law enforcement’s ability to prosecute the trafficking of illicit drugs.

Recommendation 14

That the Government of Canada recognize the importance of increasing police resources to combat gang violence, with particular emphasis on enhancing youth and young adult gang diversion efforts, while encouraging greater diversity in police services.

Recommendation 15

That the Government of Canada increase funding to the Akwesasne Mohawk Police Service, promote economic development in Akwesasne, and encourage the surrounding police of jurisdiction to strengthen collaboration and information sharing with Akwesasne and other border communities to ensure improvement in law enforcement’s ability to intercept illegal firearms at the provincial and international border.

Recommendation 16

That the Government of Canada fully implement the three recommendations from Public Safety Canada’s 2019 report entitled Evaluation of the Akwesasne Organized Crime Initiative:

• Continue to support the Akwesasne Mohawk Police Service in building their capacity to ensure their full participation on the Joint Investigative Team and contribution to the disruption of organized crime in and around Akwesasne.
• Identify the appropriate funding mechanism (e.g. multi-year contribution agreement or grant) to support the Akwesasne Mohawk Police Service’s sustained long-term participation in the Joint Investigative Team.
• Explore opportunities to streamline administrative requirements for the Akwesasne Mohawk Police Service and internal Public Safety Canada practices to increase efficiency and address existing burdens on both the recipient and Public Safety Canada staff. This could include revising reporting requirements, considering longer term funding and increasing coordination with other programs.

Recommendation 17

That the Government of Canada ensure that as it co-develops a legislative framework for First Nations policing which recognizes it as an essential service, that Indigenous police services like the Akwesasne Mohawk Police Service are part of the co-development process.

Recommendation 18

That the Government of Canada recognize that smuggling is a significant contributor to gun and gang violence in Canada and that more resources must be allocated to firearms smuggling.

Recommendation 19

That the Government of Canada investigate the need for enhanced border surveillance of international commercial rail operations and ocean freight shipping operations.

Recommendation 20

That the Government of Canada allocate additional human and financial resources to the Canada Border Services Agency to enable them to better investigate and apprehend those attempting to smuggle illegal firearms into Canada, including innovative technological solutions.

Recommendation 21

That the Government of Canada develop a legal framework that distinguishes between regulatory and criminal firearms offenses in order to provide limited police resources the ability to focus on violent crime and gang activity.

Recommendation 22

That the Government of Canada develop a standardized schedule and definitions of prohibited firearms within the Criminal Code of Canada, with an emphasis on simplicity and consistency.

Recommendation 23

That the Government of Canada fund additional research into the prevalence of the domestic diversion of firearms, including considering implementing a reasonable limit on the number of restricted firearms a person can own should it be found to be a significant factor in domestic diversion.

Recommendation 24

That the Government of Canada as part of its prohibition on certain firearms implement a mandatory buyback program following consultation with relevant stakeholders.

Recommendation 25

That the Government of Canada study models adopted by other jurisdictions, like the U.K. and Australia, in banning certain firearms in their jurisdictions in order to better understand what a made-in-Canada solution would look like.

Recommendation 26

That the Government of Canada review the importation, domestic manufacturing, sale, and possession of all firearms magazines that can be easily modified to hold more than the maximum permitted capacity.

Recommendation 27

That the Government of Canada amend current legislation to require a possession and acquisition license to purchase magazines in the same way as ammunition.

Recommendation 28

That the Government of Canada regulate the possession, sale, and import of firearm component parts such as barrels, slides, and trigger assemblies.

Recommendation 29

That the Government of Canada further investigate the prevalence of, and develop a strategy to counteract the manufacturing of illegal firearms or ghost guns.

Recommendation 30

That the Government of Canada amend the definition of a firearm in Section 2 of the Criminal Code to include in its specification of firearms and firearm parts “blank castings of frames or receivers not yet capable of holding various firing components.”.

Recommendation 31

That the Royal Canadian Mounted Police ensure that the Chief Firearms Officer verify all information contained in a possession and acquisition license application.

Recommendation 32

That the Government of Canada, amend licensing regulations to clarify the licence verification provisions by stating that a seller must provide a potential buyer's licence number to the Registrar so that it can confirm its validity in the system before issuing a reference number authorizing the transfer of a firearm.

Recommendation 33

That the Government of Canada amend the law to ensure that individuals under a protection order related to intimate partner violence automatically have their possession and acquisition licence revoked and their firearms surrendered to the Crown.

Recommendation 34

That the Government of Canada introduce legislation as soon as possible that take into account the recommendations of this report.