On Wednesday, Minister of Justice Laura Lang tabled Bill No. 11, the Yukon Firearms Act, 2026 in the Yukon Legislative Assembly.
This proposed legislation is designed to support responsible Yukon firearm owners and reflects views shared by many Yukoners during a public engagement this summer.
Traditional activities like hunting, trapping, target shooting and being on the land are core parts of northern culture and livelihoods and support nutritional needs across the Yukon. Firearms are an essential part of many of these activities and support safety while on the land in remote wilderness.
The Yukon Firearms Act would allow for the creation of a new firearms advocate for the Yukon, who will be responsible for:
- advocating on behalf of lawful Yukon firearm owners;
- supporting education, training and safety initiatives to support owners and to improve public safety outcomes related to firearms;
- advising the Minister of Justice on firearms issues; and
- communicating with the public, including individuals and businesses, on firearms-related issues to hear and understand Yukoners’ perspectives.
Developing and passing a Yukon Firearms Act is a key mandate commitment of the Yukon government.
Our government has consistently opposed unreasonable federal firearms policy and programs, and we are committed to supporting responsible firearm owners. The Yukon Firearms Act is one initial but important part of this work, and I thank everyone who participated and shared their views with us during public engagement to inform this legislation.
The Yukon Fish and Game Association believes that federal firearms legislation is unfair to licensed firearms owners and ineffective across Canada and the Yukon. The Yukon government's newly tabled Yukon Firearms Act supports local firearms owners, especially hunters who depend on firearms as tools to support their way of life. We greatly appreciate the Yukon government’s Department of Justice for effectively putting the territory's unique way of life into perspective with this legislation.
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The territorially appointed firearms advocate is not part of the Canadian Firearms Program and is separate from the new northern chief firearms officer position recently announced by the Government of Canada.
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The public engagement took place from July 2 to August 7, 2026, and received 268 responses.
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During the 2026 spring sitting of the Yukon Legislative Assembly, Motion No. 54 in support of firearms owners was introduced by Southern Lakes MLA Tyler Porter and passed unanimously.
Tim Kucharuk
Press secretary, Cabinet Communications
867-335-2419
[email protected]
Zara Soukoroff
Communications, Justice
867-471-0563
[email protected]