The Shooting Federation of Canada (SFC; French: Fédération de Tir du Canada (FTC)) is the national governing body responsible for the development and governance of recreational and competitive target shooting in Canada, particularly focussed on ISSF shooting sport disciplines and preparing athletes for competition at the World Championships and Olympic Games.[1] The SFC is recognised by the Canadian Olympic Committee and Canadian Paralympic Committee.[2][3]
History
The SFC was founded in 1932 as the "Canadian Small Bore Rifle Association." It received Letters of Patent in the name of the "Canadian Small Bore Association" on July 31, 1936. In the aftermath of WWII, the CSBA changed its name to the "Canadian Civilian Association of Marksmen." It remained the CCAM until December 2, 1964, when it adopted its current name.
In May 2020, the SFC wrote to Public Safety Minister Bill Blair concerned that the provisions of SOR/2020-96.[4] In particular, the concern that the "20mm" rule prohibiting firearms with a bore diameter exceeding 20mm would ban every 10- and 12-gauge shotgun, including those used for Olympic Skeet and Trap. [5]
In 2022, an open letter to membership, SFC President Sandra Honour called on members to engage with their Members of Parliament regarding Bill C21 which sought to prohibit private ownership of many target pistols.[6][7]
High Performance Program
Canada competes in all ISSF sanctioned disciplines and regularly has competing athletes at ISSF World Cups, ISSF World Championships, and major games such as Pan Am Games, CAT (Confederación Americana de Tiro) Championships, and Olympic Games.
The SFC High Performance Program under the auspices of the High Performance Committee consists of the National Team, Development Team, and Junior Team.[8]
World Class Performance
Canada has won nine Olympic medals in shooting events, going back to 1908.[2]
^Sandra Honour (1 June 2022). "Open Letter to SFC Membership"(PDF). Shooting Federation of Canada. Archived(PDF) from the original on 21 October 2022. Retrieved 18 April 2023. The ISSF oversees many target shooting disciplines involving air rifle, air pistol, small caliber rifle and pistol and shotgun target shooting sports. These are more than just the Olympic and Paralympic events. Bill C21 is an attempt to manage criminal violence; however, it has components that impact law- abiding sport enthusiasts and the grassroots of our sports. It is a shame that the SFC was not consulted to allow the lawmakers to understand the negative impact the limited exceptions to handgun purchases will have on our Olympic hopefuls. I am concerned that components of Bill C21 will strangle a large portion of our sport's resources. We are a group of sports that is competitively practiced by people 13 years of age to well into their 80s and 90s. I would challenge you to find a more inclusive sport as body size, body shape, physical limitations, age, and gender identity do not hinder a person wanting to achieve excellence in the target shooting sports. Bill C21 Section 43 proposed subsection 97.1 "exceptions" only allows the participant in the Olympic or Paralympic shooting disciplines to purchase a handgun from enactment going forward. The "exceptions", as currently written, essentially strangles all our "feeder' pistol sports by not allowing any new non-Olympic target sport pistols to be purchased in this country.
