Parliamentary Committee Notes: Note For The Deputy Minister
Standing Committee on Public Safety and National Security on December 3, 2024 to present the Supplementary Estimates (B) 2024-25
The Minister is scheduled to appear at the Standing Committee on Public Safety and National Security on December 3, 2024 to present the Supplementary Estimates (B) 2024-25. The following information pertains to funding being sought for the Assault-Style Firearms Compensation Program (ASFCP) as well as funding received to date.
Supplementary Estimates B
- Seeking access to $32.0 million ($22.3 million in Vote 1 and $9.7 million in Vote 5 appropriations); and an additional $13.7M for the RCMP.
- (As this is the first public appearance discussing these funds, the following information has not been disclosed publicly, but is not sensitive.)
- Funds will enable the Program to:
- Enter into funding agreements and contracts to support program delivery and the collection, transportation, processing and destruction of assault-style firearms (ASFs) held by individuals;
- Expand the functionalities of the Web portal and Case Management System for Phase 2;
- Notification and communications activities; and
- The remaining funds are for salary and non salary costs at Public Safety Canada (PS) to continue Program planning and implementation activities.
ASFCP funding received to date
- To date the Program has received $63.3M since the prohibition was announced in May 2020, an average of $16M per year.
- Funds have enabled the Program to:
- Plan and design Phase 1 (Businesses);
- Advance planning for Phase 2 (Individuals);
- Establish compensation values for both Phase 1 (Businesses) and Phase 2 (Individuals) through contracts with the Canadian Sporting Arms and Ammunition Association (firearms industry representative) and IBM, and subsequent to a public consultation;
- The following information has not been released publicly but is not sensitive.
- Enter into a contract with a third-party service provider for the validation and destruction of business-held ASFs;
- Implement Phase 1 of the Web Portal and Case Management System, which will be the interface through which businesses will submit claims and track payments, and through which PS and implementing partners will track firearms and resolve cases; and
- Stand up a Contact Centre for Phase 1, and plan the marketing campaign.
- To date approximately 102 staff are working at Public Safety on designing and launching both Phases of the Program.
Program Next Steps
- Phase 1 is expected to launch in the fall 2024. PS is completing final tests, the destruction service provider is ready and a Contact Centre will be ready to take calls.
- Phase 2 is expected to launch in 2025. PS is working with all implementing partners to secure agreements and prepare all program elements to be in a position to launch in due course.
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