A confidential report from a government-appointed expert panel, advising the Liberals to prohibit or restrict newer models of the SKS semi-automatic rifle, was delivered to the government nearly a full year before Public Safety Minister Gary Anandasangaree told a parliamentary committee he was still awaiting such advice.
Minister's Statements Contradicted by Report Timeline
In October of this year, Public Safety Minister Gary Anandasangaree repeatedly informed the House of Commons public safety committee that a decision on the popular SKS rifle was pending recommendations from an "expert panel." He stated on October 9 that no recommendation had been made at that point.
However, a redacted copy of the panel's report, quietly published online by Public Safety Canada, reveals it was completed and sent to the government on January 31, 2025. This creates a gap of approximately nine months between the government receiving the advice and the minister's claims of awaiting it.
Key Recommendations on the Controversial SKS
The expert panel's findings addressed one of the most contentious firearms in the Liberal government's sweeping ban of over 2,500 makes and models since 2020. The panel expressed reluctance to recommend a blanket prohibition on all SKS rifles, acknowledging its original Soviet-era design and its widespread use as a hunting weapon, particularly within some Indigenous communities.
Instead, the panel focused on modern variants. It specifically recommended that "more recent designs with detachable magazines should be either restricted or prohibited." The report singled out one model: the Kodiak Defence Scorpio SKS-15. The panel also called for further study on the potential impacts of a ban on Indigenous rights-holders.
Announcements Coincide with Polytechnique Anniversary
The report's public release occurred on the same day Minister Anandasangaree announced the government would launch a review of the firearms classification system—a move the expert panel had recommended. The government had initially committed to this review back in March.
The minister also pledged to create a new, expanded advisory group to consult directly with Indigenous-rights holders regarding the future of the SKS. These announcements came just two days before the 36th anniversary of the École Polytechnique shooting in Montreal, a tragedy that continues to shape Canada's gun control debates. Prime Minister Mark Carney was expected to attend a vigil marking the anniversary.
The situation highlights the ongoing political sensitivity surrounding firearm legislation in Canada, as the government balances public safety concerns with the interests of hunters, sport shooters, and Indigenous communities.
