Horizontal initiatives

On this page

• Addressing Drug Impaired Driving in Canada (Closing Report)
• National Cyber Security Strategy (Closing report)
• Initiative to Take Action Against Gun and Gang Violence
• Funding to Enhance Canada's Firearm Control Framework

Addressing Drug Impaired Driving in Canada (Closing Report)

General information

Name of horizontal initiative

Addressing Drug-Impaired Driving (DID) in Canada

Start date of the horizontal initiative

April 1, 2017

End date of the horizontal initiative

March 31, 2025

Lead department

Public Safety Canada

Number of times renewed

0

Federal partner departments^{Footnote 1}

Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA)

Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP)

Other non-federal partners

N/A

Expenditures

Results

Brief explanation of performance

Public Safety Canada (PS)

N/A^{Footnote 46}

Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA)

The Drug-Impaired Driving (DID) horizontal initiative (HI) was introduced with the objective of building law enforcement capacity to address drug-impaired driving in Canada. Prior to launch of the DID in 2017, the CBSA did not train border services officers (BSOs) on the detection of DID but rather offered training specific to detecting alcohol-impaired driving. The introduction of Bill C-46, An Act to amend the Criminal Code (offences relating to conveyances) and to make consequential amendments to other Acts, Bill C-46, An Act to amend the Criminal Code (offences relating to conveyances) and to make consequential amendments to other Acts, and this subsequent initiative allowed for the CBSA to carry-out the necessary training to intercept DID at the border. The CBSA committed to training 1,425 BSOs (i.e., 30% of workforce at land borders) in the administration of the Standard Field Sobriety Testing (SFST) which consists of a battery of three evaluation techniques to determine impairment.

Over the past eight years, the initiative has resulted in the successful training of over 1,100 frontline officers across the country in the detection of drug impairment, significantly strengthening operational capacity at land ports of entry. This enhanced workforce readiness has contributed to the interception of a substantial number of suspected DID, directly supporting Canada's public safety objectives.

The CBSA made considerable strides towards its target training prior to COVID-19 and managed to train nearly half the required BSOs before the onset of the pandemic. Due to the public-health limitations on any in-person courses, training was put on hold for an extended period of time which created a backlog on mandatory training across the Agency. When training resumed, other critical training was prioritized which prolonged the pause on the SFST courses delivery. As a result, the associated project funding was re-profiled to ensure availability of funds upon project resumption. At the same time, Public Safety Canada (PS) requested an extension of the original project timelines to support the eventual business resumption post-pandemic and to address the training backlog. After three years of re-profiling project funding, the CBSA resumed project activities in 2023-24. While the majority of the project milestones were accomplished by March 31^st 2025, the CBSA continues to work towards achieving its original target to train 30% of the land border workforce (currently at 27%).

It is important to note that the CBSA had also originally planned to procure approved drug screening equipment (ADSE) in order to provide BSOs with an additional tool to detect drug impairment. However, after a fulsome review of the devices' capabilities and thorough stakeholder consultations, in 2023-24, the CBSA elected not to proceed with the purchase of the devices, due to their lack of suitability for the Agency's mandate and operating environment. This decision demonstrated sound fiscal responsibility as the uptake of ADSEs across jurisdictions is varied, while the reliance on the SFST by all PS partners continues to grow. Funding planned for the purchase of the devices was returned.

By proactively addressing the risks associated with DID at the border, the CBSA played a critical role in helping to keep Canadian roads and communities safe. The CBSA's success comes hand-in-hand with strong collaboration from public safety partners. Early initiative milestones such as the completion of working collaborative arrangements between the CBSA and responding police agencies established cooperative relationships in part by delineating CBSA's functions as first responders. When dealing with impaired drivers at the land border, CBSA's authorities are limited to the identification of a Criminal Code offence. A BSO does not have the legal authority to lay a criminal charge, therefore, if CBSA arrests an individual for a Criminal Code offence, they turn the subject over to the responding police agencies to lay charges. The responding police agencies are then responsible to file all related court documents and then turn over the case and court files to the Crown for possible prosecution.

Financial adjustments

Although included in the original Horizontal Initiative funding envelope, CBSA's decision to not move forward with procuring Approved Drug Screening Equipment (ADSE) resulted in some of the project funds being returned under the Refocusing Government Spending (RGS) initiative. The ongoing funding of $148 thousand that was to begin in 2024-25 to maintain the ADSEs was also returned under the RGS initiative. Some of the residual project funding was reallocated internally in the Agency to address shortfalls related to Standard Field Sobriety Testing (SFST) training delivery.

Best Practices

CBSA continues to promote and grow awareness within the organization on the role of its officers in removing impaired drivers from Canadian roads. An annual calendar of SFST is being maintained in order to provide on-going SFST training across the Agency. In addition, the CBSA recently took the initiative to develop an online SFST review course available to all staff (and mandatory for instructors). Whether it is for awareness, for front-line managers to better support officers or, as a review tool, it is being well received and helping drive interest from BSOs wanting to attend SFST training.

Future Considerations

The costing exercise which was completed to determine CBSA's requirement for on-going funding to achieve its yearly commitment to train new officers on SFST did not take into consideration the remaining training backlog of approximately 300 officers. As such, additional funding has been requested to further CBSA's progress in meeting its original target to train 30% of its land border workforce.

Furthermore, the Department of Justice is assessing changes to the Evaluation of Impaired Operation (Drugs and Alcohol) Regulations (SOR/2008-196), by adding a fourth test to the series of physical evaluations available to officers for the detection of impaired driver. If adopted, updates to the current training standards will be required to reflect the additional test, as well as updates to policy and procedures, reporting systems and agreements with responding partners.

Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP)

The Drug Evaluation and Classification Program (DECP), incorporated into the Criminal Code in 2008, establishes standardized procedures for Drug Recognition Expert (DRE) evaluations (conducted by certified police officers) and Standard Field Sobriety Testing (SFST). The International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) recognizes the RCMP as the National Coordinating Office for the DRE and SFST training suites, responsible for ensuring oversight and uniform application of IACP standards in Canada. In support of the DECP, the RCMP nationally delivers and oversees DRE training and certification to law enforcement personnel across Canada, including First Nations police services.

Prior to the launch of the DID initiative in 2017-18, 750 law enforcement officers were certified as DREs. By July 2025, 1,200 DREs were active and certified in Canada, demonstrating that this initiative has significantly expanded training and certification. Even with a complete training shutdown during the COVID-19 Pandemic, the RCMP and partner agencies were able to nearly double the number of trained frontline officers.

Program results indicate that the RCMP is succeeding in strengthening its response to cannabis legalization by continually developing and delivering DRE training to frontline officers, engaging youth and Indigenous communities to discuss the dangers and risks of DID as well as developing and disseminating effective DID awareness products. These efforts have enhanced the capacity of law enforcement nationally and increased DID specific engagement with youth and Indigenous communities.

Plans (including timelines) for evaluation and/or audit

A Horizontal Evaluation of the Initiative to Address Drug-Impaired Driving in Canada was completed in 2024-25.

Decision

Continuation of program

Summary of the Evaluation's findings

The Initiative successfully provided drug screening devices to law enforcement, though their uptake has been limited. Training and awareness were impactful, with DID courses delivered to law enforcement and border services officers, and public campaigns by Public Safety Canada and the RCMP effectively raising awareness. National standardized indicators for drug-impaired driving were developed, but ongoing challenges have hindered the development of a comprehensive picture of the scope and impact of drug-impaired driving in Canada. Additionally, issues with funding eligibility were not considered during the Initiative's design which delayed the timely implementation of some contribution agreements.

Recommendations:

1. Continue to support the provision of Standard Field Sobriety Testing and Drug Recognition Expert training to law enforcement officers across Canada. (PS, CBSA, RCMP)
2. Engage with Statistics Canada to leverage their expertise in addressing the recommendations of the Federal Provincial and Territorial Working Group in relation to work with coroners and medical examiners to improve data collection and reporting on fatal collisions involving drug-impaired driving. (PS)
3. Explore opportunities for ongoing drug-impaired public awareness campaigns to maintain the positive attitudinal shifts. (PS)

National Cyber Security Strategy (Closing Report)

General information

Name of horizontal initiative

A National Cyber Security Strategy (NCSS)

Start date of the horizontal initiative

June 2018

End date of the horizontal initiative

March 2023

Lead department

Public Safety Canada

Number of times renewed

0

Federal partner departments

Communications Security Establishment (CSE)

Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS)

Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC)

Global Affairs Canada (GAC)

Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED)

Natural Resources Canada (NRCan)

Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP)

Other non-federal partners

N/A

Expenditures

Results

Brief explanation of performance

Public Safety Canada (PS)

PS officially launched its initiatives under the 2018 NCSS in 2019-20. The Department was responsible for three initiatives under the NCSS which provided stakeholders (i.e., senior government officials, provincial and territorial counterparts, private sector organizations, and academia) opportunities to improve their cyber security postures. The results of these initiatives included cyber security research and recommendations, training and exercises and funding for cyber security projects. There is limited performance data available for some of PS' initiatives; the Department made use of other program documents and publicly available information.

1. The Strategic Policy Capacity initiative worked toward the NCSS goal of "Effective Leadership, Governance and Collaboration" by enhancing information sharing. This was done by creating a cyber-security community between NCSS-funded and non-funded departments and agencies through Senior Executive-Cyber Security meetings and associated working groups has been able to establish and coordinate partnerships with international stakeholders.
2. The Supporting Canadian Critical Infrastructure (CI) Owners and Operators initiative consisted of three programs which reached members of all 10 CI sectors Participant feedback for activities was favorable; however, as data collection was limited to post-event surveys, the programs' impacts on organizations' cyber security are inconclusive.
3. The 2018 Cyber Security Cooperation Program (CSCP) initiative funded 28 projects. Projects ranged from increasing the number of cyber security professionals, to enhancing cybersecurity for technological advances such as connected and autonomous vehicles and quantum computing. While these projects greatly contributed to the goals of the 2018 NCSS, the demand for the CSCP far outweighed the allocated funding, and so the CSCP was not able to fully address the needs of Canada's cyber community. And, as the program did not have a mechanism in place to roll-up all the findings, it was difficult to use the CSCP projects to inform broader policy issues and decision-making.

While PS committed to the use of GBA Plus in its cyber and CI priorities, there was a lack of understanding by NCSS partners on how to fully apply GBA Plus to cyber security and technology. However, efforts also indicated a willingness among NCSS partners to learn more about how to increase their focus on GBA Plus in their initiatives. The CSCP included a focus on GBA Plus in both calls for applications, and the majority of projects that received funding described how they considered and addressed diversity.

The COVID-19 pandemic led to unintended outcomes for NCSS initiatives, including requiring the cancelling of in-person activities and assessments. However, most initiatives were able to adapt and move activities to a virtual environment, which were well-received by stakeholders overall.

Communications Security Establishment (CSE)

Improved Integrated Threat Assessments

CSE's Canadian Centre for Cyber Security (CCCS) saw an increased production of integrated cyber threat assessment products to evaluate the top 10 ransomware threats and the ransomware supply chain. Five Eyes partners continue to share ransomware incident data with the CCCS to support the development of joint Five Eyes cyber security products. The CCCS has further developed leadership in knowledge production related to cybercrime, ransomware and the supply chain of goods and services that enable the ransomware enterprise.

The CCCS continues to produce cyber threat assessments and brief CSE leadership and/or Canadian clients at an average of once per week and is consulted or asked to review products by Canadian partners an average of twice per week. Other publications such as the flagship National Cyber Threat Assessment (NCTA) are reaching a wider audience and are generating follow-on engagements.

Preparing Government of Canada Communications for Advances in Quantum (IQSC)

The CCCS continues to engage with Government of Canada departments on quantum preparedness activities. It has also engaged with U.S. cryptography vendors and security partners to evaluate project deliverables against Canadian requirements and to identify what, if any, changes are required. The CCCS is working closely with our U.S partner as they move forward with the Advanced Cryptographic Capability program.

Expanding Advice and Guidance to the Finance and Energy Sectors

Many of the new partners onboarded in the Finance Sector were within the Credit Services and Insurance Subsectors. Requests for assistance included onboarding and subscriptions to CCCS services, technical support, incident response, and requests for guest speakers or presentations.

Requests from Energy Sector partners included questions about adding contacts to services, solving issues with the delivery of services, providing additional information on published CCCS products, and assisting in getting security clearances for partners. Some of the services offered to the sector by the CCCS include the National Cyber Threat Notification System (NCTNS), malware.cyber.gc.ca, and other cyber-threat sharing services.

Canadian Centre for Cyber Security

Since reaching Interim Operating Capability 3 (IOC 3), the CCCS has been operating out of a fully functional facility and has harmonized program operations. This has strengthened the CCCS's workplace culture and connections with CSE teams working from the Edward Drake Building. The CCCS Project has also encouraged the ongoing adoption of collaboration tools configured to meet CSE's information security requirements, created an integrated and intuitive physical security environment, and the continued refinement of secure networks at multiple classification levels.

The CCCS IM/IT infrastructure meets the operational requirements of employees, and the CCCS is exceeding its targets for timely resolution of client service requests.

Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS)

Enhanced Cyber Threat Intelligence Capacity

Through the duration of the Horizontal Initiative, CSIS improved its ability to detect cyber threats against Canada through increased warranted collection and cyber operations with a Human Intelligence (HUMINT) component that met the level of impact targeted. CSIS increased the number of threat reduction measures undertaken, surpassing the expected threshold for impact.

The Service augmented its existing cyber threat intelligence capacity through a matrixed team assembled in HQ and regional offices. Augmented regional capacity made extensive community outreach possible, which, among other things, has led to the detection of new malware techniques and tools used by state-sponsored threat actors. CSIS collectors also worked closely with resellers and internet service providers to collect on, and identify new, state-sponsored infrastructure.

Intelligence Products and Feedback

CSIS disseminated well over 500 intelligence reports to domestic partners. CSIS cyber intelligence products have consistently received positive feedback from both Government of Canada (GC) and foreign partners, who have noted their direct or significant value to clients' awareness of the threat environment, preparation for briefing requirements, or to inform policy-making.

Next Steps and Best Practices

Building on the successes of the Horizontal Initiative, CSIS will continue to enhance its cyber threat intelligence capacity by leveraging the expertise of its regional collectors and HQ staff. The Service will also prioritize the development of strategic partnerships with key stakeholders, including CCCS, to ensure a coordinated and effective intelligence collection and disruption efforts regarding cyber threats.

Economic and Social Development Canada (ESDC)

Between 2018-19 to 2020-21, the Student Work Placement Program (SWPP) was provided with $8.3 million for the creation of up to 1,000 new Work Integrated Learning opportunities in cyber security and related fields. Funding was distributed to Technation (formerly the Information Technology Association of Canada) and the Information and Communications Technology Council (ICTC) to create these opportunities. ICTC and Technation are strong performers under the SWPP and continue to provide opportunities for post-secondary students in fields related to cyber security, although no dedicated funding is allocated specifically to this field.

Global Affairs Canada (GAC)

GAC continues to support the Government of Canada in taking a leadership role to advance Canada's cyber security interests internationally and shape the international cyber security environment in Canada's favour. While the work is still ongoing, GAC has successfully advanced or completed many of the activities it had committed to undertake to support the implementation of the NCSS.

Some key activities include:

• Engagement at UN: GAC led Canada's participation in UN cybersecurity discussions. Over the five-year span of the NCSS, GAC laid critical groundwork that enabled Canada to protect its national security in cyberspace by ensuring Canada was not unduly restricted by international norms. In addition, Canada championed key values such as gender equality and multistakeholder participation within the UN system.
• Advancing Canadian Values: Canada championed Canadian values in international forums. For example, Canada funded the Women in Cyber program, which encouraged the participation of female diplomats from developing countries. This helped the UN OEWG to attain gender parity, a first for a UN security committee, and through the training Canada and allies provided, these diplomats effectively argued for positions shared by Canada.
• Increasing Internal Capacity: GAC has significantly strengthened its internal capacity to champion Canadian values on the international stage. GAC established a dedicated team at headquarters focused on advancing international cyber policy and engagement and creating a Cyber Attaché position in Washington. Some of the results included:
  • Improved foreign policy coherence on cyber-related issues;
  • Enhanced interdepartmental coordination of international cyber engagement;
  • Strengthened representation of Canada in global cyber policy discussions.

Next Steps and Learning Lessons

• Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, there were cancellations of international events/meetings and delays in staffing. This caused GAC to underspend by approximately five million dollars during the 2018-23 NCSS period.
• As part of the NCSS, GAC was responsible for developing an international cyber strategy. While progress was made and a draft strategy was created, the strategy was not publicly released during the initial NCSS period due to shifting priorities and competing demands. To fulfill this commitment, GAC will continue the work under the 2025 NCSS.

Many of the processes and initiatives referenced above required significant effort and time to fully implement and create measurable outcomes. While Canada has made meaningful progress in embedding its values such as gender and multistakeholder engagement into these processes, full integration will take years. In addition, the long-term nature of these makes it challenging to quantify results in the short term.

Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED)

Budget 2018 awarded ISED, the Standards Council of Canada and the Canadian Centre for Cyber Security five years of funding to create and operate a cyber certification program for small and medium-sized organizations (SMOs). The program:

• identified baseline cybersecurity controls for SMOs;
• established the CyberSecure Canada certification mark;
• worked with partners to align the program with the National Standard on cybersecurity, CAN/CIOSC 104; and
• launched a free eLearning series to help SMOs learn how to improve their cybersecurity.

Funding ended as planned on March 31^st, 2023.

Over the course of the program, ISED issued 46 certifications to small and medium-sized businesses (SMOs) which were valid for a two-year period. All certifications under the CyberSecure Canada program will expire by October 4, 2025. Standards Council of Canada continues to be responsible for accrediting certification bodies that can certify SMEs against the National Standard that was released by the Digital Governance Council. This National Standard outlines a minimum set of cyber security controls called in the Baseline Cyber Security Controls for Small and Medium Organizations. The Canadian Centre for Cyber Security continues to educate SMEs regarding the importance of cyber security.

Natural Resources Canada (NRCan)

NRCan has demonstrated strong leadership in advancing the National Cyber Security Strategy (NCSS) by enhancing the resilience of Canada's energy infrastructure. The team has cultivated robust partnerships across government, industry, academia, and international stakeholders, positioning NRCan as a trusted collaborator in bolstering energy sector cyber security resilience.

Through its active engagement in key North American networks and its stewardship of the Energy and Utilities Sector Network (EUSN), NRCan has successfully fostered collaboration, facilitated knowledge exchange, and promoted best practices. These efforts have strengthened the sector's ability to respond to evolving cyber threats.

Through NRCan's commitment in support of the NCSS, the organization has deepened its engagement with stakeholders and reinforced its leadership in energy security and resilience. The department continues to be recognized as a key player in shaping national and cross-border energy cyber resilience efforts, while advancing strategic initiatives that address emerging risks to the sector.

Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP)

In collaboration with domestic and international law enforcement partners, the NC3 and the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre (CAFC) enables and empowers law enforcement to reduce the threat, victimization, and impact of cybercrime on Canadians. The program contributed to various international and domestic investigations, leading to arrests and charges, the seizure of cybercrime infrastructure and assets, and the identification of cybercriminal cryptocurrency assets.

Between 2020 and 2023, the NC3, along with EUROPOL and the Gendarmerie nationale (France), supported Operation Cronos, by which law enforcement disrupted world's biggest ransomware operation. In parallel, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) targeted LockBit, a prolific cybercriminal group whose main focus was offering Ransomware as a Service (RaaS), leading to criminal charges, disruption and takedown activities. Financially-motivated, LockBit was responsible for an estimated 44% of all ransomware attacks in 2023, primarily targeting healthcare and education, with $91 million USD paid in ransom to hackers between 2020-23. In 2022-23, the NC3 supported the disruption and dismantling of the HIVE ransomware group infrastructure, which had targeted more than 1,500 victims in over 80 countries across the world (including in Canada (see for example, N.L. says HIVE ransomware group was behind 2021 cyberattack on health systems)). Working with domestic and international partners, the program notified HIVE ransomware victims in Canada and facilitated access to decryption keys so that Canadian organizations were able to decrypt their data and not make ransom payments. As a result of collaborative law enforcement efforts, the impact of the HIVE ransomware group's attacks was reduced.

Between 2020-21 and 2022-23, the NC3 received and actioned over 4,300 requests for assistance, including over 2,200 requests from domestic law enforcement and over 2,100 from international law enforcement partners

The RCMP's Federal Policing Cybercrime (FPCC) mandate focuses on the highest levels of cyber-criminality threatening the safety and security of Canadians. The program works closely with domestic and international partners to identify, prioritize, disrupt and prosecute the most significant threats within the cybercrime ecosystem.

Due to the nature and complexity of federal cybercrime investigations, operational success cannot be measured solely by conventional criminal justice outcomes—such as arrests, seizures, or convictions, which are often unfeasible and fail to accurately reflect the true impact of law enforcement efforts within this area of criminality.

FPCC has expanded its focus on disrupting key cybercrime enablers, degrading the capabilities of threat actors, leveraging the force-multiplying benefits of international cooperation, and developing and sustaining a highly skilled and specialized workforce. These efforts have yielded broad and meaningful impacts, both in terms of undermining serious cybercriminal activities and enhancing public safety.

Since the launch of the NCSS (2018), FPCC has prioritized the recruitment and development of highly specialized cybercrime investigative, technical, and analytical expertise capable of carrying out complex cybercrime investigations and supporting the RCMP's Federal Policing cybercrime mandate. With investments from the NCSS, the RCMP established two new Federal Policing Cybercrime Investigative Teams (FP CITs) in Toronto and Montréal. In 2022, the RCMP reallocated resources internally to establish two additional—yet substantially smaller—FP CITs in Edmonton and Vancouver, strengthening FPCC's investigative capacity across the country.

Combating cybercrime requires an agile, coordinated and sustained whole-of-government approach. FPCC enhanced information sharing, coordination and deconfliction with the RCMP's National Cybercrime Coordination Centre (NC3). Both programs work in close collaboration to share information, tools and technologies; streamline the intake and assessment for files and requests under the Federal Policing mandate; and align intelligence priorities—all to better support the regional FP CITs, Federal Policing Cyber Liaison Officers and specialists deployed abroad.

The RCMP is a significant stakeholder in the Government of Canada (GoC) Cyber Security Event Management Plan (GC CSEMP) and the Federal Cyber Incident Response Framework (FCIRP). Under these plans, FPCC worked alongside other GoC agencies, fostering timely information and intelligence sharing and strong partnerships to address the most pressing cyber threats impacting Canada and Canadians. FPCC imbedded a cybercrime investigator within the Canadian Centre for Cyber Security (CCCS) 's National Cyber Security Response Unit (NCRU) to provide situational awareness, operational oversight and law enforcement support to the whole-of-government response to serious cybersecurity incidents. Furthermore, FP CITs conducted numerous criminal investigations into cybersecurity incidents facilitated by state and non-state actors targeting Canadian critical infrastructure, government systems, and other critical cyber systems.

Maintaining strong reciprocal international partnerships is paramount in combatting the highest-levels of cybercrime. As part of the international intelligence and law enforcement community, FPCC contributed to several international committees and initiatives to align major projects onto the most significant global cybercrime threats and priorities. This includes prioritizing and coordinating intelligence and enforcement efforts with like-minded partners to disrupt key enablers within the cybercrime ecosystem. Through these partnerships, the program also contributed to the proactive innovation and the development of cyber investigative tools and techniques.

Furthermore, the RCMP deployed several Cyber Liaison Officers and Specialists to strategic international locations. This expanded international footprint strengthened strategic and operational partnerships; generated investigative leads and advanced cybercrime investigations with a nexus to Canada; and positioned the RCMP to participate and contribute to global cybercrime operations and initiatives

Plans (including timelines) for evaluation and/or audit

Initiative to Take Action Against Gun and Gang Violence

General information

Name of horizontal initiative

Initiative to Take Action Against Gun and Gang Violence (ITAAGGV)

Lead department

Public Safety Canada

Federal partner departments^{Footnote 56}

Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA)

Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP)

Start date of the horizontal initiative

September 28, 2018

End date of the horizontal initiative

March 31, 2028^{Footnote 57}

Description of the horizontal initiative

These activities deliver on a Budget 2016 Government commitment to take action against gun and gang violence by removing handguns and assault-style firearms from our streets, and for the Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness to work with provincial, territorial and municipal counterparts to develop a strategy on how the federal government can best support communities and law enforcement in their ongoing efforts to make it harder for criminals to obtain and use firearms, and to reduce gun and gang violence.

The ITAAGGV helps to support a variety of strategies to reduce gun crime and criminal gang activities, and is centered around three themes:

• Investing in communities through a grants and contributions program;
• Enhancing federal enforcement capacity within the RCMP and CBSA; and
• Enhancing federal leadership by Public Safety Canada to promote improved data collection, research and information sharing.

RCMP: Is expanding and enhancing existing services by:

• Bolstering investigative firearms support nationwide;
• Leveraging increased capacity to conduct physical firearms inspections;
• Supporting strategic intelligence analysis related to street gangs;
• Prioritizing the use of the Canadian Integrated Ballistics Identification Network for gang-related cases;
• Providing anonymous online capability to investigate firearm trafficking and smuggling;
• Enhancing analytical capacity to develop and produce actionable intelligence; and
• Establishing the Criminal Firearms Strategic and Operational Support Services team to coordinate efforts and support initiative partners with tools, strategic analysis, and research related to criminal gun usage and gang violence.

CBSA: Is investing in new technologies and specialized training to better interdict illicit trafficking across the border by:

• Procuring detection technology for international postal processing facilities and major international airport facilities to streamline the inspection of mail and air cargo;
• Constructing facilities and investing in training to increase CBSA's detector dog team capacity to identify drugs and firearms at ports of entry through less invasive means;
• Investing in IT capabilities to effectively leverage INTERPOL information to interdict high risk travellers at the earliest point; and
• Developing and deploying national training products to enhance the CBSA's effectiveness to identify, detect, and interdict illicit trafficking.

Public Safety Canada is providing funding to provinces and territories (PTs) through the Gun and Gang Violence Action Fund (GGVAF) to combat the issue of gun and gang violence in communities across Canada. PTs are responsible for further distributing funding to eligible recipients in their jurisdictions, in order to advance efforts in the priority areas of prevention; intervention; gang exit; outreach and awareness programming; strategy development; training; and enhancing intelligence sharing and law enforcement capacity to combat gun and gang violence. Additionally, Public Safety Canada enhances federal leadership by developing an integrated, results-based approach to reducing gun and gang violence across Canada, including by developing expertise on guns and gangs including linkages to other illicit markets; creating a national strategy; as well as improving the collection of national data related to gun and criminal activity in a coordinated approach with partners and the sharing of information and best practices to avoid duplication of efforts.

Governance structures

Public Safety Canada has established and chaired an Assistant Deputy Minister (ADM) level committee with participation from CBSA and RCMP as the Oversight Committee for the Initiative in 2022-23. Its role is to review the status of the various initiatives and progress made in meeting results targets; direct adjustments if necessary; and provide overall direction to the implementation of the horizontal initiative.

The committee aimed to meet annually, corresponding with the planning and reporting cycle. As a result of a reorganization within the firearms file, the committee has done work to reorganize the PS executive level participation.

A working group comprising PS, RCMP and CBSA have been working together in the development of the ITAAGGV, including the results measurement strategy. Going forward, partners will ensure that the membership of this group reflects the necessary areas within each organization to speak to programming and results and financial planning and reporting. This group will meet to ensure that systems are in place to support effective horizontal planning and reporting and will support the ADM level Oversight Committee, ensuring that any issues that may affect the performance of the initiative are flagged to ADMs as they arise.

Total federal funding allocated (from start to end date) (dollars)

$806,748,797

Total federal planned spending to date (dollars)

$539,484,893

Total federal actual spending to date (dollars)

$480,409,580

Date of last renewal of the horizontal initiative

2023-24

Total federal funding allocated at the last renewal, and source of funding (dollars)

PS : $412,243,762 (FY 2023 to 2024 – FY 2027 to 2028)

CBSA: N/A

RCMP: $38,366,905 (FY 2023 to 2024 – FY 2027 to 2028)

Total: $450,610,667

Additional federal funding received after the last renewal (dollars)

N/A

Total planned spending since the last renewal (dollars)

PS : $412,243,762 (FY 2023 to 2024 – FY 2027 to 2028)

CBSA: N/A

RCMP: $38,366,905 (FY 2023 to 2024 – FY 2027 to 2028)

Total: $450,610,667

Total actual spending since the last renewal (dollars)

PS: $163,877,303

CBSA: $49,272,754

RCMP: $17,109,500

Total: $230,259,557

Fiscal year of planned completion of next evaluation

An evaluation of the Initiative to Take Action Against Gun and Gang Violence is planned for 2027-28.

Performance highlights

Public Safety Canada (PS)

From 2018 to 2023, the Government allocated funding of $356.1 million over five years to establish the ITAAGGV, focusing on Investing in Communities (Theme A), Enhancing Federal Enforcement Capacity (Theme B), and Enhancing Federal Leadership (Theme C). The Initiative was renewed in February 2023, for funding from 2023 to 2028. Funding was given to Public Safety Canada (PS) of $9.5 million for Operations and Management and activities under Enhancing Federal Leadership, in addition to funding of $390.6 million for the Gun and Gang Violence Action Fund (GGVAF) and an added $10 million for the Youth Gang Prevention Fund (YGPF).

In 2024-25, a total of 13 agreements were administered representing an investment of $78.1 million. Following a graduated increase of funding over five years to provinces and territories, the GGVAF is now at its full projected funding level across the five-year funding period to 2027-28.

Public Safety Canada engaged in leadership-based activities such as knowledge development, data collection, development of the National Strategy to Reduce Gun and Gang Violence, the second annual Stakeholder Survey, and policy activities related to the overall gun and gang file (including the Building Safer Communities Fund (BSCF)), as well as operational costs.

ITAAGGV investments were complemented by the $250 million BSCF, first announced in March 2022. This provided funding directly to municipalities and Indigenous communities to bolster gang-prevention programing to counter the social conditions that lead to criminality, which may support local initiatives to prevent gun and gang violence and help young people make good choices. Using targeted funding based on an evidence-based formula, in 2024-25, a total of 87 projects were administered, representing an investment of $79.5 million, 16 of which were new projects.

In collaboration with provinces and territories, PS and its Federal-Provincial-Territorial (FPT) Tiger Team advanced the development of the National Strategy. The purpose of the strategy is to provide a general framework to guide future work to come to curb gun and gang violence. A concept paper was shared with external stakeholders (i.e. municipalities, Indigenous communities, academia, non-governmental organizations, and law enforcement) identified by PTs, as well as the CBSA and RCMP.

PS continued to use existing governance of the ITAAGGV to advance important work in the federal law enforcement area, with a focus on the results management strategy, programming and results, and financial planning and reporting. The Department continued to benefit from its strengthened governance framework as completed under the FPT tables, including the FPT Working Group on Gun and Gang Violence where participants collaborate and exchange knowledge on the issue of gun and gang violence across the country, community safety and well-being, prevention, intervention activities, gang suppression, law enforcement and data collection for crime prevention and law enforcement. PS worked with provinces/territories to obtain further input on GGVAF results and outcomes, PT input relating to Treasury Board policies regarding the RCMP and contribution agreements, and commentary on overall PS gun and gang violence activities. This work supported the senior management FPT committees held several times a year.

PS launched the second annual ITAAGGV Stakeholder Survey in winter 2024-25 to stakeholders addressing gun and gang violence, including provinces/territories, portfolio partners, municipalities, Indigenous communities, non-governmental organizations and academia. The Department distributed a "What We Heard" report to stakeholders based on survey results from the 2023-24 Annual Stakeholder Survey.

PS also increased its capacity to assemble and report on the ITAAGGV results, including outputs, outcomes and increased data capacity and knowledge development. PS refined the standardized Annual Performance Reporting across PS programs in the crime prevention space. Reporting ITAAGGV results was supported by both financial reporting and non-financial reporting on the Gun and Gang Violence Action Fund via the PS regional offices.

Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA)

To date, the CBSA has completed the following:

1. Intercept Illicit Guns in Postal Stream (Postal)– Dual View X-Rays and Software/Network

The CBSA has successfully implemented six Dual View X-ray machines under the Postal Networking sub initiative to screen increased volumes of mail items at postal facilities.

2. Detecting Firearms – Detector Dogs (DDS)

The Detector Dogs Service Program firearms sub-initiative is complete, with all new firearms DDS teams in place and being monitored.

3. Construction and Maintenance of an All-Weather Training Facility (AWF)

The All-Weather Facility sub-initiative became fully operational in May 2023, and 2024-25 was the first year it will be reporting on savings (AWF generated at least $77,000 in cost avoidance savings ^{Footnote 58}.

4. Advanced Vehicles Concealment Techniques Course (AVC)

The Advanced Vehicle Concealment course, now referred to as the Advanced Automobile Examination (AAE) course is fully implemented and the CBSA has since trained all identified officers.

The following item has been discontinued:

5.Transnational Organized Crime Threat Identification – INTERPOL Interface

As previously reported, this initiative has been discontinued following a decision by Treasury Board.

Activities were ongoing to achieve the following item by 2026-27:

6. Air Cargo Security

With respect to the deployment of imaging technology in the air mode, an extension to deployment was sought and obtained to the end of 2026-27. This extension was necessary due to setbacks from a prior technology solution, supply chain limitations, and the global pandemic. Work continued in 2024-25 to establish the necessary contracts to support the deployment of the detection tools amidst other major government priorities.

Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP)

During 2024-25, the RCMP's Federal Policing assessed transnational organized crime related to firearms and informed domestic and international partners on ongoing and new trends related to smuggling, trafficking and 3D/privately made firearm fabrication through the production of bi-monthly intelligence reports.

The RCMP Criminal Intelligence Service Canada (CISC) took steps to create the National Street Gang Strategy for the criminal intelligence community promoting information sharing, disruption and training.

The RCMP Canadian Firearms Program's (RCMP-CFP)/National Weapons Enforcement Support Team (NWEST) continued to strengthen public safety by supporting firearm-related investigations and providing expertise to law enforcement. NWEST responded to 10,832 calls for service in support of firearm-related investigations and delivered over 200 training sessions to over 5,600 individuals across the country, from front line law enforcement, Crown attorneys, and other public safety partners, improving firearms investigations and prosecutions. In collaboration with the Ministry of the Attorney General for Ontario, NWEST delivered the 2025 Integrated Firearms Working Groups Conference, which provided specialized training related to challenges associated to the multi-faceted nature of gun trafficking and importation, the violence it facilitates, and effective investigative and trial strategies.

NWEST also undertook a unique training initiative to support aviation security with the Calgary International Airport, and multiple partners, resulting in follow-up presentations and training with the Calgary International Airport, CBSA, and CATSA.

NWEST revised its retailer outreach and educational program, providing support to industry, strengthening the detection of straw purchasing at the retail level, as well as information-sharing with law enforcement. NWEST continued to work in collaboration with international partners to share intelligence and identify/disrupt cross-border firearm smuggling.

The RCMP-CFP's Specialized Firearms Support Services (SFSS) section continued to maintain the Firearms Reference Table (FRT), with 7,024 records added or updated this reporting period. SFSS tracked emerging trends in the firearms industry and developed subject matter expertise on these trends to support law enforcement and to deliver training to partner agencies. This included hosting two national workshops on illicit manufacturing, engaging over 95 participants from NWEST, CBSA, the Department of National Defence (DND), and other key agencies. SFSS delivered 3D-printing trend briefings to 686 law enforcement and legal professionals. Additionally, SFSS provided operational support to law enforcement partners by responding to 2,097 service inquiries and conducting 61 firearm inspections.

The RCMP-CFP's Firearms Internet Investigation Support Unit (FIISU) supported 189 firearms investigations with law enforcement partners from across Canada. This included 40 trafficking and straw purchasing cases (including 3D printing and importation), 26 Outlaw Motorcycle Gang (OMG) files, 13 organized crime-related investigations. Additionally, a key presentation at the Integrated Firearms Working Groups Conference directly resulted in new CBSA enforcement requests.

The RCMP-CFP's Criminal Firearms Strategic & Operational Support Services section (CFSOSS) successfully developed reporting products shared with law enforcement partners and ITAAGGV stakeholders to provide an overview of the national firearms landscape in Canada previously referred to as the Firearms Analysis & Strategic Summary (FASS) report. CFSOSS collaborated with the Canadian National Firearms Tracing Centre (CNFTC) to continue critical work to expand tracing services to law enforcement and produced reports and statistics on firearms traced by the Centre, that contribute to identifying the source of crime guns in Canada. This included providing aggregate firearms tracing data from the CNFTC to Statistic's Canada Canadian Centre for Justice and Community Safety Statistics (CCJCSS) to support the development of its pilot study on the collection of aggregate firearms tracing data.

In 2024-25, CFSOSS supported partners through the provision of available datasets and statistics, including contributions to the Canadian Integrated Response to Organized Crime (CIROC), and fulfilled several other ad hoc data and statistics requests for internal and external law enforcement partners.

CFSOSS continued work to develop tools and approaches to combat criminal firearm usage that aligns with ITAAGGV priorities by advancing the implementation of industry standard IT solutions to enhance strategic and tactical analysis to respond to the changing firearm landscape. CFSOSS pursued efforts to bolster firearms license eligibility screening of high-risk individuals in partnership with provincial Chief Firearms Officers.

Contact information

Frédéric Chartrand,
Director, Director, Program Development and Coordination
Public Safety Canada
frederic.chartrand@ps-sp.gc.ca

Performance information

Theme horizontal initiative activities

Funding to Enhance Canada's Firearm Control Framework

General information

Name of horizontal initiative

Funding to Enhance Canada's Firearm Control Framework (FECFCF)

Lead department

Public Safety Canada

Federal partner departments^{Footnote 119}

Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP)

Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA)

Start date of the horizontal initiative

December 2, 2021

End date of the horizontal initiative

March 31, 2026

Description of the horizontal initiative

Escalating firearms-related violence is fueling public concern and giving rise to demands for federal action to curtail the availability of firearms in Canada. The Government has committed to implementing effective firearms-related measures that prioritize public safety to maintain legal access, use and ownership of firearms, prevent the misuse of firearms and reduce gun crime and criminal activity. A balanced approach is required to ensure that efforts to reduce violent crime are focused on those who use firearms for illicit purposes, while not impeding on legal firearm owners.

The shared outcomes for this initiative are as follows:

• Canadians and law enforcement benefit from easier access to and improved delivery of firearms regulatory services;
• Reduce illegal firearm-related activities; and
• Canadian communities are safe from firearm–related crime.

PS provides federal leadership on Canada's firearms policies, laws, and regulations, and since firearms control is a shared responsibility between the federal government and Canada's provinces and territories (PTs), the department also engages and collaborates with its federal partners, PTs, and stakeholders to address firearm-related matters.

Several programs in the RCMP contribute directly to this horizontal initiative. The RCMP is responsible for operations of the Canada Firearms Program (CFP) and the administration of the Firearms Act (the Act) and its regulations. It also provides direct operational and technical firearms-related support to law enforcement across Canada and abroad. The CFP's mission is to enhance public safety by supporting lawful ownership and use of firearms so as to reduce the risk of harm that results when firearms are misused. To this end, it provides a number of important services to Canadians including screening individuals for eligibility to possess and/or acquire a firearm, licensing businesses that manufacture and sell firearms, and registering restricted and prohibited firearms. Additional support is provided by: National Forensic Laboratory, which can restore serial numbers that aid tracing efforts as well as link seemingly unrelated criminal cases to a single firearm; Criminal Intelligence Service Canada (CISC) and its intelligence holdings on known or suspected criminals and criminal groups involved in serious or organized crime, which are accessible to over 380 federal, provincial, and municipal law enforcement and public safety member agencies across Canada; and Federal Policing's efforts to develop intelligence related to transnational organized crime groups activities related to firearms trafficking and smuggling activities.

The CBSA plays a critical role in detecting and interdicting illicit firearms entering Canada. The CBSA contributes to the Government's firearm-related commitments through the implementation of a Firearms Strategy focusing on the identification, disruption, interdiction, enforcement, investigation and prosecution of illicit firearms and related activities using an intelligence-led, problem solving and integrated approach. The Firearms Strategy also focuses on partnerships with domestic and international partners in combatting the threat that firearms pose to our community

Governance structures

The Funding to Enhance Canada's Firearm Control Framework (FECFCF) leverages an Assistant Deputy Minister (ADM)-level committee, co-chaired by PS and RCMP, with participation from the CBSA and other federal partners as the oversight committee for the initiative. The role of the committee includes reviewing the status of various activities within the FECFCF and progress made in meeting performance targets; making direct adjustments if necessary; and providing overall direction to the implementation of the horizontal initiative.

Additionally, PS formalized a working group which includes representatives from PS, RCMP, and CBSA in order to ensure excellence in programming, results, financial planning and reporting and horizontal collaboration on meeting Government commitments on firearms.

Total federal funding allocated (from start to end date) (dollars)

$206,423,296

Total federal planned spending to date (dollars)

$135,271,075

Total federal actual spending to date (dollars)

$117,423,774

Date of last renewal of the horizontal initiative

N/A

Total federal funding allocated at the last renewal, and source of funding (dollars)

N/A

Additional federal funding received after the last renewal (dollars)

N/A

Total planned spending since the last renewal (dollars)

N/A

Total actual spending since the last renewal (dollars)

N/A

Fiscal year of planned completion of next evaluation

Performance highlights

Public Safety Canada (PS)

In 2024-25, Public Safety Canada continued to develop an awareness campaign based on new firearms-related measures to ensure impacted groups are aware of and understand how to use new tools designed to keep them safe. This included the following achievements:

• Developed and implemented an awareness campaign in support of the new "Red Flag" laws, including public legal education resources and publications, and information webinar. Two hundred-ninety-seven people registered for the "red flag" law awareness webinar from more than 210 organizations. One hundred sixty-one participants attended the session from across Canada on February 25, 2025. The Red Flag Awareness Initiative 2025 was also launched on February 19, 2025 to support projects which will help mobilize knowledge on "red flag" laws to target audiences.
• Through virtual discussions, technical briefing sessions, and proactive information sharing, engaged with provinces and territories, Indigenous organizations and stakeholders to help inform the implementation of firearms measures, including former Bill C-21 (i.e., licence revocation and ineligibility, licence suspension regime and red flag laws).
• Continued to advance evidence based policy initiatives, and support broader collaboration and data-sharing through on going partnership with Statistics Canada.

Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP)

In 2024-25, The RCMP's Federal Policing National Intelligence, in partnership with the Divisions Criminal Intelligence Analysis Sections (DCAS), Global Initiatives, International Policing, and Federal Policing Criminal Operations, assessed transnational organized crime related to firearms and informed domestic and international partners on ongoing and new trends related to smuggling, trafficking and 3D/privately made firearm fabrication through the production of bi-monthly intelligence reports.

Over the past fiscal year, the RCMP's Canadian Firearms Program (CFP) continued expanding its Canadian Firearms Digital Services Solution, with 42.86% of individual services now available online. It continued migrating business and individual licence services online to improve accessibility and functionality for firearms clients.

To combat firearms trafficking and smuggling, CFP has continued to enhance its support to law enforcement, increasing completed trace requests received by the Canadian National Firearms Tracing Centre (CNFTC) by 5.24% when compared to the previous year, and by 199.35% when compared to 2020.

Canada Border Service Agency (CBSA)

In 2024-25, the CBSA continued to execute on its commitments and continued to build upon its successes from 2023-24. It focused on increasing its intelligence and investigative capacity, create meaningful and timely intelligence products, break down barriers and increase information sharing with its partners, finalize the deployment of detection equipment at the land borders, and continue to determine next steps for its Artificial Intelligence.

Enhanced Intelligence and Investigative Capacity

In the first year of the initiative, the CBSA established the National Firearms Intelligence Desk (NFID), which provided the Agency and its partners with timely analysis of the sources, routes, and methods by which illicit firearms enter Canada. The team aims to better position the Agency and its law enforcement partners to respond in an agile manner to shifts in organized firearm smuggling activity. It also ensured seizure and trend data is fed back into the CBSA's data analytics and automated risk assessment functions to continuously refine the Agency's capacity to detect firearm smuggling attempts. The NFID also participates in the Canada-United States Cross-Border Firearms Task Force, a forum to scope and identify ways to counter firearm smuggling across the Canada-United States border.

Additional firearm-focused intelligence and criminal investigation resources have been assigned to every region to ensure the Agency can deliver on its Firearms Strategy and offer committed participation in firearm-related joint force operations with federal, provincial, and municipal law enforcement partners. These resources also support and feed into the NFID, including in their development of an annual National Firearms Threat Assessment. Due to the previously allocated resources, the Criminal Investigations Sections regionally were able to meet and surpass the target of complex cases initiated. Additionally, investigators have a continued commitment to liaise with domestic and international partners to further firearms related investigations.

Legislative, regulatory and policy development

CBSA continued to contribute to the Government of Canada's efforts on a number of initiatives, including the amendments within Bill C-21, which received Royal Assent on December 15, 2023. Amendments to Section 107 Policy Approval Tables under 107(8) allow Border Services Officers (BSOs) (with Supervisor approval) to proactively disclose customs information re: firearms to US officials as needed in "real time" (i.e., officer safety scenarios, US export permit violations). These amendments were finalized in the Section 107 Policy in March 2025. Regulatory changes to mandate advance electronic data for Courier Low Value Shipments (CLVS) changes were implemented via the CBSA Assessment and Revenue Management (CARM), which was officially launched on October 21^st, 2024.

Threat Detection at Borders

CBSA has successfully deployed all units, with the final handheld X-ray device delivered to the regions in the 2023-24 fiscal year. CBSA continues to provide training, support, and reporting on the use of these instruments. Additionally, within the firearms initiative, CBSA is committed to exploring new technologies to enhance detection capabilities.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) Identification and AI Threat Detection in Parcels

The work performed on the Artificial Intelligence Proof of Concept (POC) has provided significant insight to the CBSA in implementing AI technologies within the agency. The lessons learned from this POC will be used to inform future CBSA activities/project work as applicable to AI and X-ray technology. This is expected to further strengthen and position the Agency's capabilities to combat contraband firearms and firearms parts in the postal and courier streams

Contact information

Firearms Policy Division

ps.firearms-armesafeu.sp@ps-sp.gc.ca

Performance information

Theme horizontal initiative activities

Date modified:

2025-11-07