Overview of the Promise

During the 2025 federal election campaign, Liberal Leader Mark Carney promised to increase capacity to track down guns used in crimes by investing in the RCMP’s National Forensic Laboratories in Ottawa and Surrey, as well as the Saskatchewan Ballistics Laboratory. This commitment aimed to enhance forensic capabilities to identify and trace firearms involved in criminal activities, ultimately helping to catch those responsible. The promise was part of a broader public safety platform announced on April 10, 2025, focusing on combating gun violence, gangs, and illegal firearms trafficking.

Actions Taken by the Carney Government

Since assuming office following the 2025 election, Prime Minister Mark Carney's government has made some initial steps toward addressing gun violence and supporting law enforcement, including investments in RCMP operations. On November 26, 2024—prior to Carney's leadership but carried forward—the government announced $8.3 million in continued annual funding for the RCMP to address gun and gang violence, which includes support for forensic and investigative tools. However, this predates Carney's tenure, and specific post-election actions have focused more broadly on public safety rather than targeted forensic lab expansions.

As of August 2025, the RCMP's National Forensic Laboratory Services (NFLS) operate sites in Ottawa, Edmonton, and Surrey, with updates to their capabilities noted in official RCMP communications. The Carney government has emphasized modernizing RCMP infrastructure, including a March 21, 2025, investment of over $107 million to combat gun violence in Quebec, which indirectly supports forensic efforts through enhanced crime-fighting resources. However, there has been no explicit announcement or allocation of funds specifically for expanding the Ottawa and Surrey labs or the Saskatchewan Ballistics Laboratory as outlined in the promise.

Legislation and Policy Developments

No new legislation has been proposed or passed directly tied to this promise as of August 28, 2025. The government has continued existing frameworks under the Firearms Act and public safety initiatives, but targeted bills for forensic lab investments remain absent. Broader public safety measures, such as tougher bail rules and sentencing for violent crimes, were highlighted in the Liberal platform, but these do not address the forensic capacity expansion. Advocacy groups have urged swift action on firearm commitments, noting delays in similar pledges from previous administrations.

Progress on Specific Promise Elements

The promise specifies investments in three key facilities: the RCMP’s National Forensic Laboratories in Ottawa and Surrey, and the Saskatchewan Ballistics Laboratory. To date, general funding for RCMP forensic services has been maintained, with the NFLS framework including ballistics analysis. However, dedicated expansions or upgrades for these sites have not been publicly detailed or funded under Carney's government. For the promise to be fully kept, the government would need to announce and implement specific investments, such as budget allocations in the next fiscal plan, infrastructure upgrades, or hiring specialized staff for these labs. If no action is taken by the end of the first parliamentary session or if funds are redirected elsewhere, it risks being classified as broken. Currently, with only broad crime-fighting investments and no targeted announcements, progress is limited.

Challenges and Context

Critics, including gun control advocates, have called for timely delivery on firearm-related promises, citing past delays. The government's focus has shifted toward defense spending and border security, with a $150 billion pledge for military enhancements potentially competing for resources. While RCMP reforms have been discussed, including recruitment of additional officers, forensic lab capacity has not been a highlighted priority in recent updates.

Overall Status

This promise is in progress.