Canada’s Gun Registry Costs Climb to $339 Million
10/1/01

During the past six years, the Canadian government has spent
more than $339 million on its firearms-licensing system, the
Edmonton Journal reported Sept. 26.

To date, the licensing system has cost taxpayers well more
than the original $760 million estimate when the Firearms
Act was passed in 1995. The system has generated $28
million in revenues from license and gun-registration fees.

David Austin, spokesman for the Canadian Firearms Center,
said extra costs were expected in fiscal year 2000-2001
because of the high demand for applications to meet the
law’s registration deadline. In addition, the center spent
money educating gun owners about the system.

Despite the high costs, a recent audit said that Canada’s
firearms-licensing system is plagued with problems,
including a backlog of applications for gun ownership and
acquisition licenses.

Austin said the licensing system would, at some point, fund
itself. “Eventually, you may find that happens, once we
reach a steady state, but we’re not there yet; we’re still
at implementation,” he said.