Canada Gun Licences Rise to Record in 2022, Defying Liberal Attacks

30 January 2023
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Canada Gun Licences 2022

TheGunBlog.ca — The number of Canadians with a gun licence rose to a record in 2022, defying the governing Liberal Party’s increased political and legislative attacks on firearm users.

PALs Exceed 2.26 Million

  • A new high of 2,264,755 men and women had a government-issued firearm Possession and Acquisition Licence (PAL) at December 31, 2022.
  • Source: Kim Chamberland, a spokesperson for the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, e-mailed the information to TheGunBlog.ca today in response to our request for the data.
    • The Ottawa-based RCMP oversees the licensing regime.

Why It Matters

  • That’s the most PAL holders since the regime took full effect in 2001, and 1.2% more than the previous record in 2021. Licencees as a percentage of all adults held relatively steady at 7.2%.
  • Gun ownership gained in popularity, even as Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his Liberals expanded their restrictions, prohibitions and confiscations targeting PAL holders.
  • Demand for licences climbed as people across the country get guns for activities ranging from protection, safety and self-defence to recreation, competition, hunting and collecting.

Data Table: PALs By Province and Territory

Source for 2022 Data: RCMP, Response to TheGunBlog.ca, 30 January 2023

Province/Territory
(Alphabetical)
Individual PALs
(2022)
5-Year Change
(%)
Alberta346,851+15.7%
British Columbia340,363+18.2%
Manitoba96,569+10.7%
New Brunswick71,652+5.2%
Newfoundland and Labrador74,532-0.1%
Northwest Territories5,847+3.6%
Nova Scotia76,007+3.7%
Nunavut3,344-10.7%
Ontario633,460+7.3%
Prince Edward Island6,668+8.4%
Quebec484,687-1.2%
Saskatchewan116,480+10.3%
Yukon8,295+13.6%
Canada Total2,264,755+7.8%

Charts

These are the same charts as at Canada Gun Facts and Stats.


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Topics: Exclusives, Licensing, RCMP

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