Background on the Promise

During the 2025 federal election campaign, Liberal Leader Mark Carney pledged that his government would automatically revoke gun licences for individuals convicted of violent offences, with a particular emphasis on those convicted of intimate partner violence and those subject to protection orders. This commitment was part of a broader public safety platform aimed at reducing gun violence and enhancing protections against intimate partner violence.

Existing Legal Framework

Prior to Carney's election, Canadian law already included provisions for revoking firearms licences for individuals convicted of violent offences. Under the Firearms Act, licences can be revoked if a person is deemed a risk to public safety, including due to criminal convictions related to violence. This includes daily criminal record checks for licensed gun owners as part of continuous eligibility screening. Convictions for intimate partner violence have long triggered such revocations, as highlighted in analyses of pre-existing policies.

Actions Taken by the Carney Government

Since taking office following the April 2025 election, the Carney government has built on existing laws by announcing further measures to combat firearms violence and intimate partner violence. In March 2025, shortly before the election, the government prohibited additional assault-style firearms and introduced new measures aimed at keeping people safe from intimate partner violence involving firearms. Post-election, on June 6, 2025, Prime Minister Carney marked the National Day Against Gun Violence by pledging new measures, including upgrades to border security and stricter rules on firearms licences to better enforce revocations for violent offenders.

The government has also faced calls from gun control advocacy groups to ensure timely implementation of these election promises, emphasizing the need to avoid delays seen in previous administrations. Discussions around bail reform and addressing illegal guns from the U.S. have been linked to this promise, with Carney vowing new legislation on bail reform by fall 2025, which could indirectly support licence revocation enforcement.

Legislation Proposed or Passed

No entirely new legislation specifically creating automatic revocation has been passed under Carney, as this mechanism was already embedded in the Firearms Act. However, the March 2025 prohibitions and associated measures represent enhancements to the framework. The government has indicated plans to reinvigorate related programs, such as the gun buyback, which could complement revocation efforts by reducing overall firearm access for at-risk individuals. Advocacy groups have urged swift action to fulfill pledges, noting that while the core policy exists, implementation and enforcement need strengthening to fully address intimate partner violence and protection orders.

Progress on Specific Points

The promise specifies automatic revocation for violent offences, particularly intimate partner violence convictions and those under protection orders. Existing daily checks and revocation powers cover these areas, but the Carney government's announcements suggest efforts to make these processes more robust and automatic. For instance, stricter licence rules announced in June 2025 aim to ensure faster revocations. However, full legislative updates to codify any enhancements are still pending, with bail reform legislation expected in fall 2025 that may tie into this.

Challenges and Next Steps

To consider this promise kept, the government would need to pass or fully implement enhancements ensuring automatic, efficient revocations without gaps, especially for intimate partner violence cases. If no further action is taken by the end of 2025, it could be at risk of being broken, particularly if advocacy groups report ongoing delays in enforcement. The focus on U.S.-sourced illegal guns indicates a broader approach, but the core promise hinges on domestic licence management.

Overall Status

This promise is in progress.