Overview of the Promise

During the 2025 federal election campaign, Liberal Leader Mark Carney pledged to toughen oversight of firearms licensing and strengthen the enforcement of yellow and red flag requirements. This was to be achieved by bolstering the capacity of Provincial Chief Firearms Officers (CFOs) to fulfill their obligations. The promise aimed to enhance public safety by improving monitoring and intervention mechanisms for potentially risky firearm owners, building on existing frameworks like those introduced in previous legislation such as Bill C-21.

Actions Taken by the Carney Government

Since assuming office in May 2025, the Carney government has announced several public safety measures related to firearms, including updates to the gun buyback program and commitments to defend existing gun control laws. In July 2025, Prime Minister Carney acknowledged the role of illegal guns in recent shootings but emphasized the need for stricter domestic controls. However, specific actions directly addressing the toughening of licensing oversight have been limited to announcements and planning stages. For instance, the government has indicated intentions to enhance enforcement mechanisms, but concrete implementations, such as increased funding or resources for CFOs, have not yet been fully rolled out.

Legislation Proposed or Passed

No new standalone legislation has been passed specifically targeting this promise as of August 2025. The government has built on prior laws, including the March 2025 prohibition of additional assault-style firearms and the August 2024 introduction of new firearms licensing requirements aimed at combating unlawful manufacturing. These predate Carney's tenure but align with his platform. In April 2025, during the campaign, the Liberals proposed revamping public safety measures, including automatic license revocations for certain offenses, though critics noted this was already part of existing law. Post-election, the government has focused on implementing election pledges, with Public Safety Minister Gary Anandasangaree stating in August 2025 that efforts to strengthen enforcement are underway, potentially through amendments to existing firearms acts. However, advocacy groups have urged faster action to avoid delays seen under previous administrations.

Progress on Key Points of the Promise

The promise includes two main points: toughening oversight of firearms licensing and strengthening enforcement of yellow and red flag requirements via bolstered CFO capacity. On oversight, the government has committed to daily criminal record checks for licensed owners, which were already in place but are being emphasized in new policy frameworks. For yellow and red flag laws—allowing for temporary license suspensions or revocations in cases of potential risk, such as intimate partner violence—the Carney administration has pledged to enhance these, but actual enforcement improvements remain pending. Bolstering CFO capacity, such as through additional staffing or funding, has been discussed in platform documents but lacks evidence of allocation in the latest federal budget updates. Gun control groups have expressed concern over potential delays, noting that without swift resource enhancements, the promise risks stagnation.

Current Status and Potential Outcomes

As of late August 2025, the promise is showing signs of movement through announcements and planning, but full implementation has not occurred. To become kept, the government must pass legislation or allocate specific funding to increase CFO resources, demonstrate improved enforcement metrics (e.g., higher rates of flag activations), and provide public updates on oversight enhancements by the end of 2025. If no tangible actions, such as budget commitments or regulatory changes, materialize by mid-2026, it could be at risk of being broken, especially amid criticisms of prioritizing other issues like border security over domestic licensing reforms.

Overall Status

This promise is in progress.