A new federal government proposal would implement further restrictions on retailing and transporting black powder and powder for reloading.
The proposal would limit couriers without a special licence to transporting no more than 150 kilograms of explosives and require any business selling any volume of powder to register online with Natural Resources Canada. The proposal, which was posted in the Canada Gazette for pending regulation changes on November 1, would also mean more record keeping, and more restrictions and oversight on who distributors can sell to.
The Canadian Sporting Arms and Ammunition Association (CSAAA) has raised concerns that the proposed changes could mean reductions in product availability and cost increases.
The restrictions, if implemented, would impact smaller gun shops and chain stores, many of which don’t have an explosives license, CSAAA President Wes Winkel said. It will especially impact remote northern areas, where people reverted to reloading because of ammunition supply issues, and in southern Ontario, which has black powder seasons, he added. “It’s going to really restrict who will be able to carry, who is willing to carry it.”
The changes are unnecessary as there haven’t been instances of powder sold for nefarious purposes, or issues with trucks exploding while carrying powder, Winkel added.
“There’s no reason for this at all,” he said. “There’s no public safety hazard.”
Comments are open until Dec. 1 and can be made at:
https://gazette.gc.ca/rp-pr/p1/2025/2025-11-01/html/reg3-eng.html
