Legal Battle over Federal Firearms Ban Heads to Supreme Court of Canada
The appeal tests whether cabinet can ban firearms by regulation when public safety conflicts with hunting and sport use, after lower courts upheld the prohibition.
- On Monday, the Supreme Court of Canada began hearing arguments regarding the federal government's 2020 ban on more than 2,500 varieties of assault-style firearms, testing whether Ottawa exceeded its regulatory authority to protect public safety.
- Challengers, including Alberta and the Canadian Coalition for Firearm Rights, argue Ottawa criminalized ownership "at the stroke of a pen" for more than 100,000 licensed Canadians without evidence that these firearms users pose a safety threat.
- Federal lawyers contend the ban is reasonable, citing the lethality of these weapons in mass shootings and Parliament's broad discretionary authority to prioritize public safety over recreational use.
- As of mid-2026, the government has paid businesses $96 million for about 74,000 firearms, while a possession amnesty remains in effect until 90 days after the Supreme Court delivers its final ruling.
- This hearing represents the biggest case for the Supreme Court this fall, determining whether the government properly utilized regulatory powers or infringed on exclusive provincial jurisdiction over hunting and sport shooting.
39 Articles
39 Articles
Supreme Court to hear challenge to federal firearms ban
The Supreme Court of Canada is scheduled to hear arguments Monday and Tuesday on whether the federal cabinet exceeded its authority when it banned roughly 1,500 firearm models and variants in May 2020. The prohibition covered firearms including the AR-15 and Ruger Mini-14. Subsequent federal measures brought the total to more than 2,500 models and variants the government classifies as assault-style firearms. At the centre of the case is a limit …
The Toronto Star
Legal battle over federal firearms ban heads to Supreme Court of Canada
OTTAWA - The country's top court is set to hear legal arguments this week about the validity of a federal ban on hundreds of types of firearms the government says are fit only for the battlefield.
Press Release: BCCLA Challenges Expansion of Executive Powers in Supreme Court Firearm Regulations Case
November 9, 2026 Ottawa, ON / unceded Anishinabe Algonquin Territory – Today, the BC Civil Liberties Association (BCCLA) will present oral arguments as an intervener at the Supreme Court of Canada […]
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