Public Safety Canada says the new northern Chief Firearms Officer has exclusive responsibility for firearms services across the three territories and will be supported by Firearms Officers in each territory. Chief Firearms Officers administer parts of the Firearms Act, including decisions on firearms licences and certain transport or carry authorizations, and oversight of firearms-safety courses. Source↗

For Nunavut firearm owners, instructors and applicants, the change is intended to put regulatory oversight under an office focused on northern conditions rather than the former Manitoba–Nunavut arrangement. The government says its 2024 consultations in Nunavut, Yukon and the Northwest Territories identified needs for a stronger local program presence, more frequent safety-course delivery, and more outreach and education. The release does not promise a specific service standard, number of courses or Nunavut office. Source↗

The federal government says it will run an open appointment process for the permanent northern Chief Firearms Officer. Until then, an interim officer from Yukon will cover all three territories. Public Safety Canada has not published an appointment timeline, name of the interim officer, Nunavut contact details or a transition plan for pending applications. Source↗

This is an announced service-governance change, not a funding announcement. The current RCMP contact page still lists Nunavut with Manitoba for Chief Firearms Officer contact purposes; Atiilu News Desk could not verify from the Sept. 17 release whether that page has been updated or when Nunavut-specific contact arrangements will take effect. Source↗