The Ontario CFO issued an urgent bulletin on December 22, 1999 reaffirming the requirement under the Firearms Act that came into force on December 01, 1998 that all firearms owners must be in possession of a valid Firearms Possession Only Licence (POL) or a Firearms Possession and Acquisition Licence (PAL) on January 01, 2001. Valid Firearms Acquisition Certificates FAC) will be deemed to be PAL for the purposes of the act until they expire. See Firearms Licences.
After, January 1st, 2001, the POL will no longer be issued and anyone requiring a license must obtain a PAL. The Grenville Fish and Game Club will be offering Canadian Firearms Safety Courses, for both non-restricted and restricted firearms on a periodic basis. Members wishing to take this Course in future should contact Fred Guse by e-mail or by phone at 613-652-4656. Each Course is limited to sixteen (16).
Possession and Acquisition Licence
(Form CAFC 921)
Whether you now have firearms or not, if you plan to acquire any, you must obtain a possession and acquisition licence. This licence will allow you to buy firearms or receive them as gifts, inheritances or in trade.
A possession and acquisition licence must be renewed every five years. A notice will be sent reminding you to renew.
In most cases, you will have to pass the Canadian Firearms Safety Course test to get a possession and acquisition licence. There are some exceptions (see below).
Canadian Firearms Safety Course
The revised Canadian Firearms Safety Course and the new Canadian Restricted Firearms Safety Course reflect the new law and regulations. The first course deals with non-restricted firearms safety. The second focuses on restricted firearms safety.
You won’t need to pass the test of either course to get a possession-only licence.
To get a possession and acquisition licence, you must pass the necessary test, UNLESS:
1. You have already passed the test;
2. You have passed a firearms safety course before January 1,1995 that has been "designated as equivalent" by the Attorney General of Manitoba or Quebec;
3. A Chief Firearms Officer certifies that your knowledge of firearms laws and safe handling practices meets the standards required by the licensing regulations.
If you have passed the Canadian Firearms Safety Course test before February 1, 1999 (covering firearms safety for both non-restricted and restricted firearms), or have received alternate credit for it as set out above, you will not be required to pass new Canadian Restricted Firearms Safety Course test to get a possession and acquisition licence for restricted firearms.
If you were prohibited, by court order, from possessing firearms, you will have to take the Canadian Firearms Safety Course AND pass the test, before applying for a firearms licence. This rule applies even if you took the Canadian Firearms Safety Course and passed the test before your prohibition.