r/canadaguns • u/OkPineapple7726 • Aug 09 '26
Application / Regulation advice Gun registration Quebec?
Hi, hope everyone is doing well. I just had a question regarding Quebec gun ownership. Let's say I live in Ontario and plan on moving to Quebec with unrestricted firearms. Do I have to register them?
The reason I'm asking is because im seeing a lot of differing opinions online and can't seem to find a very straight answer. Some say you only have to register them if you keep them longer than 2 months in the province? So if every month I go to the range in Ontario, I never have to register them because the "clock" gets reset every time I go?
Some say QC only has a ~25-35% registration rate, so I guess the vast majority of people are "not keeping them for longer than 60 consecutive days in the province"?
If I purchase firearms in the future and send them to my parents' house in ON, then collect them, and every 59 days I bring them across the border in ON, I never have to register them?
Thank you for any insight on this; I appreciate it!
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u/FilterAccount69 Aug 10 '26
Nobody registers them here, who cares. It's not criminal and I've never heard of someone getting in trouble. In theory if you hunt they are supposed to ask, they didnt ask when the game warden stopped me. Only wanted to see my PAL and hunting license.
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u/lessard14 Aug 10 '26
NAL, safest way to go is almost always to follow the rules. But yeah as far as I'm aware nobody register them unless they have to. It's also very common when selling between Quebec PAL holder to ask in various ways if a gun is registered. I've heard "Never went to the SAAQ" (Société de l'assurance automobile, car registration), "never registered" etc.
Because someone selling wouldn't want to keep guns they don't own registered under their name, you're forced to register them when buying an already registered gun, for the seller to be unburdened by the registry.
For many, preferences complexify the purchasing process. For instance, the few people I know that are interested in owning a makasi/Carmel wouldn't buy it from a store because it would come registered.
If you're the better safe than sorry type, just register them. Realistically, it shouldn't be an issue. If you're like most, don't worry about it and just don't. Realistically, it shouldn't be an issue.
Again, not a lawyer.
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u/FilterAccount69 Aug 10 '26
People on reddit just repeat not a lawyer for some reason as if it matters, even if you were a lawyer it wouldn't be construed as legal advice... You don't need to say not a lawyer it's a useless phrase.
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u/lessard14 Aug 10 '26
You're right, but no one wants to be looked at as a source of legal certainty, and that's why its used. Basically OP needs to fully understand there's risks associated with the decision to be taken and a lawyer could help them properly assess those risks and help them take a decision. But Reddit isn't the right place for that. It's all opinion based feedback, not a professional consultation. But I get your point. It's kind of obvious and hopefully OP clearly understands this without every redditor repeating NAL with every response.
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u/ManWithAChainsaw Aug 10 '26
Honestly, it'd just be a lot easier to not move there.
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u/OkPineapple7726 Aug 10 '26
If only it were that easy... Going from Ottawa (living with parents) to the QC side (buying a house). See Cre_AK47's reply, but the cost of living is far too much in Ott compared to QC...
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u/grandfundaytoday Aug 10 '26
Quebec taxes will even that out for you pretty quickly
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u/OkPineapple7726 Aug 10 '26
See my post I made about a week ago HERE , but to summarize, this is a reply I gave to someone saying something similar... TLDR: Taxes won't even out quickly, assuming you're buying the same house in QC vs. ON.
It's only better to pay a large mortgage vs tax, assuming real estate appreciates at a reasonable rate that outpaces the additional interest on the mortgage.
Take the last 5 years as an example: if you bought $550,00 in 2021, by now you will have paid approx $123,166 in interest VS if you make $80,000/year, you pay $4,000/year, so you pay $20,000 in additional taxes for the last 5 years. Plus, the house you bought in 2021, on avg has decreased in value, so now you're even more underwater and have recouped none of the additional interest you have paid so far. At this rate, it will take you decades until you can outpace the large interest paid vs taxes.
So no, it is most definitely not always better to pay a large mortgage vs. taxes.
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u/Cre_AK47 Name Prohibited by OIC Aug 10 '26 edited Aug 10 '26
It would be, but you can find 100% inclusive Studios all day, which includes appliances, all utilities, parking, and some landlords even include your own free private Wi-Fi router, for about less than $1200/month (I'm only paying $1000/month).
Conversely in Ontario you can find a rundown shit hole that doesn't include half of the things that is common practice to be included with your average apartment in Outaouais Region of Quebec, and yet you would be paying $1,500+/month as a base point just for rent, never mind utilities.
Now granted, that's my experience between living in Ottawa, Ontario and Gatineau, Quebec, but really, the cost of living in Ontario is so fucked that I rather live in Québec and deal with their retarded gun and language laws than get raped by greedly landlords in Ontario.
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Aug 10 '26
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u/Cre_AK47 Name Prohibited by OIC Aug 10 '26
Hey someone who did the same thing here. Don't bother. If you're so close to the Ontario border and go shooting in Ontario, there's no reason to register them, and theoretically the only penalty you'll receive is monetary if caught. No forfeiture, no forced registration, just a $500 fine.
You can order guns straight to your house in Quebec, no problem. SIAF has no jurisdiction outside of Quebec so obviously you can order guns for Ontario, delivered to your house in Quebec and they're going to be unregistered.
That is also another common thing for people who are deep inside Quebec do. Have a friend from Ontario say that's their gun, send them a physical letter or email and just keep changing the date every 60 days/keep renewing so QC guys don't have to bring it out of the province, but yes going to the range outside of Quebec would reset it.
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u/draftstone Aug 10 '26
Now a lawyer but it is my understanding that with how the law is written, you would have to register them. The time period you are talking about is about the province of residence where the firearm will be kept. So even if you go out of province to shoot for a few days, your address of storage did not change. This grace period is there for hunters outside Quebec that can come here for a few weeks renting a cottage and not have to register them.
Not saying you should or shouldn't register them, this is up to you to decide, but you would not be declared exempt with your example.
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u/OkPineapple7726 Aug 10 '26
Ok, but if I were to say I store them at my parents ' house and have "just collected them" every time, I would theoretically be fine?
I know you're not a lawyer, just curious...
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u/draftstone Aug 11 '26
"Just bought it from outside province, will register it soon" is probably a better excuse!
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u/Icy-Veterinarian8662 Aug 10 '26
The worst that can happen is you'll get a fine if by any chance you're "caught" but there are no criminal charges. It's been a hot topic in QC but easily half of people don't participate in the program
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u/Background-Way7794 Aug 10 '26
First question? are you moving , or planning to "live there with an Ontario address"? . there is a difference. Disclosure time, I am a Quebec resident and competitive shooter who travels with my firearms. I also use my firearms for work (guide) , so I cant afford an issue with the CFO. Each their own of course
If you move, officially, by law you have to register with SIAF, if you are "visiting" from outside the province, the firearms can stay for up to 45 consecutive days ( this is for non-resident hunters, cottagers etc.)
So, what happens if you don't.? Good question, sometimes nothing, sometimes a fine ( 500.00 per firearm to a maximum of 5000.00. They will take them until they are registered. The final one, and this is why I've registered mine, is that the CFO will evaluate your RPAL / PAL renewal, and has the option to refuse it if you have been found not to have registered.
So, thats the deal man.
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u/OkPineapple7726 Aug 10 '26
I appreciate the insight, thank you.
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u/Background-Way7794 Aug 10 '26
sorry, i wish i had a better way to put it, i just stuck to the facts. Its Quebec, ( well... its Quebec CITY and the political class) the rest of QC is pretty chill, particularly West Quebec. Good luck, hope it all works out for ya !
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u/DougMacRay617 Aug 10 '26
Hows this even a question in this day & age with this government.
Ask yourself this instead. "Do i want the government to confiscate my unregistered guns in the future?"
If you do want them confiscated = yes register.
If you wish to keep them = no do not register.
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u/OkPineapple7726 Aug 10 '26
I'm just looking for some clarity, man... I don't want to be thrown in jail for something stupid.
No, I don't want the gov to take my guns lol
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u/Awkward_Cheetah7519 Aug 10 '26
Youre supposed to do it but honestly no one does it. Of course myself I have done it but no one else does
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u/Watergate_Salad_007 Aug 10 '26
You only risk a ticket and they literally don't enforce it.