RECOMMENDATION

Her Excellency the Governor General recommends to the House of Commons the appropriation of public revenue under the circumstances, in the manner and for the purposes set out in a measure entitled ``An Act to amend the Criminal Code and to amend other Acts''.

SUMMARY

This enactment amends the Criminal Code by consolidating animal cruelty offences and increasing the maximum penalties.

This enactment also amends the Criminal Code and the Firearms Act in order to simplify compliance with the firearms program, to modernize administrative procedures and to meet Canada's emerging international obligations by

    (a) in Part III of the Criminal Code,

      (i) modernizing the description of firearms that are deemed not to be firearms for the purpose of the Firearms Act and certain provisions of the Criminal Code,

      (ii) providing that there is no forfeiture of goods that are the subject of a prohibition order made under section 515 of the Criminal Code, and

      (iii) providing that an authorization, licence or registration certificate for firearms be revoked or amended only for the period that a prohibition order made under that section is in force; and

    (b) in the Firearms Act,

      (i) eliminating the requirement that the renewal of licences and authorizations be dealt with in the same manner as for their first issuance,

      (ii) permitting applications for and issuance of licences, registration certificates and authorizations to be made by electronic means,

      (iii) establishing a pre-approval process for the importation of firearms by non-residents by giving the Registrar of Firearms statutory authority to carry out eligibility checks,

      (iv) authorizing the making of regulations respecting the importation and exportation of firearms and parts and components designed for use in the manufacture or assembly of firearms,

      (v) expanding the grandfathered class for certain prohibited firearms,

      (vi) modifying the employee licensing requirements,

      (vii) authorizing the Governor in Council to appoint a Commissioner of Firearms, and

      (viii) providing for the appointment or deployment of the Registrar of Firearms under the Public Service Employment Act.