'Red flag' laws were used to seize guns from Tumbler Ridge shooter. But there's little data to show they work

" red river signal flag" orders were billed as a faster, simpler way of life to stay fresh canadian river communities safe by temporarily removing legal firearms from the hands of those who might do themselves — or others — harm. They were part of a suite of gun control measures introduced in the wake of 2020's Portapique, N.S., mass shooting, the deadliest in the country's history. 

But more than two years after the orders finally became federal law, it's unclear if they are working as designed — because no one appears to be keeping track of when, where or how often they are being implemented. 

The country's 11 provincial and territorial chief firearms officers — in charge of issuing and revoking gun licences — said they have no data on such seizures. So too did the Ontario Provincial Police, Sûreté du Québec and the federal Public Safety ministry. 

The RCMP, which oversees the Canadian Firearms Program and its database, also initially said it had no information on red flag orders. But in a subsequent email, a spokesperson said the force had found a single case.

"Since December 15, 2023, one 'red flag' order was reported to the Canadian Firearms Program and recorded in the Canadian Firearms Information System," the email noted.

That case was not the Tumbler Ridge red flag that the force previously disclosed, but rather a 2025 order in Ontario. 

Under the law, anyone can bring concerns about someone with access to firearms to the attention of authorities. A provincial or territorial court judge then determines whether there are grounds to issue an emergency prohibition order, under which guns can be seized for up to 30 days.

As part of that process, the owner's firearms licence is also supposed to be revoked for the duration of the order, preventing them from buying ammunition, parts or additional guns.

The CFOs are also supposed to be responsible for issuing official notices of revocation, informing gun owners that they must hand over their firearms and licence to police within 24 hours.

It's unclear if that process isn't being respected, or whether courts and police simply aren't applying the red flag measures. 

"The safety of Canadians remains the minister’s top priority," said a spokesperson. "Questions about how the regime is applied and tracked fall under the operational responsibilities of the CFOs and the RCMP, who maintain the systems and processes involved."

Christian Leuprecht, a political science professor at the Royal Military College, said he suspects government and police officials aren't that interested in finding out the answers. 

"Much of what we do on gun policy in this country has no grounding in evidence and is all about ideology on the one hand, and about electoral payoff and specific ridings on the other," said Leuprecht.

"So we make decisions, then we look for the evidence and if we decide, 'Oh, the evidence might not substantiate the decisions that we made,' then we better not collect it."

Traumatic events, like the Portapique shooting, which killed 22 people, can also drive policy, Leuprecht said, as politicians favour quick action over lengthy deliberation.

"Usually when government introduces these types of measures, they're not particularly intended for an effect," Leuprecht said. "They're intended for a public perception that government wants to be seen as doing something."

If the data is missing, the spending is not. Ottawa has budgeted a total of $4.8 million for initiatives to raise awareness about red flag laws in fiscal years 2025-26 and 2026-27.

Wendy Cukier, president of the Coalition for Gun Control, said the issue with red flags — and many other firearms laws — is one of politics and implementation.

"We have to understand there aren't simple solutions to complex problems," said Cukier. "Laws are important, but they're words on paper if they're not backed up with resources, with accountability, with transparency."

Cukier also faults a climate of political discourse that has made discussions about guns and mass violence fraught and angry. 

"This political rhetoric really undermines our ability to do what's right for Canadians," said Cukier.

"There is no [constitutional] right to have guns in Canada. And so it's really, in my mind, a matter of political will."

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