Public Safety Canada announced Sept. 17 that a new northern Chief Firearms Officer will have exclusive responsibility for firearms services in Nunavut, Yukon and the Northwest Territories. Firearms officers in each territory will support the role. A Yukon-based interim officer will serve until the federal government completes an open appointment process for a permanent officer. ᓇᑭᓐᖔᖅᓯᒪᓂᖏᑦ↗

Chief Firearms Officers administer firearms licences and authorizations in their jurisdictions. They can approve or refuse licence applications, handle authorizations to transport or carry firearms, and oversee the Canadian Firearms Safety Course and Canadian Restricted Firearms Safety Course. The federal government says the dedicated role responds to identified gaps in northern service delivery, including course availability and local outreach. ᓇᑭᓐᖔᖅᓯᒪᓂᖏᑦ↗

Public Safety Canada says it will run an open process to appoint a permanent northern Chief Firearms Officer. The release gives no timeline for that appointment and does not set dates or locations for firearms-safety courses in Nunavut.

This is a federal service-structure decision, not a change to the Firearms Act or a new licensing rule. The announcement follows a 2024 Northern Services Review that included consultations in Nunavut, Yukon and the Northwest Territories. ᓇᑭᓐᖔᖅᓯᒪᓂᖏᑦ↗