Is Body Armour Legal In Canada? Each Province And Territories Laws And Regulations Explained

Mass shootings in Canada are not a common occurrence. Recently, a man in Nova Scotia used an illegally obtained firearm smuggled from the United States to killed 22 people.

Canadians must be prepared to fight against the evil of today. In order to properly defend yourself, your family, your neighbours, having a firearm is simply not enough.

Having a body armour that is capable of stopping military-grade ammunition, like 5.56×45 and 7.62×51, would be ideal. This would allow you to take rounds to the chest and stay in the fight, and protect the ones you love.

Here’s a list of companies that sell Body Armour in Canada:

AI Tactical Solutions
Body Armour Canada
CANARMOR
LOF Defence Systems

Is body armour legal in Canada?

Yes, body armour is legal in Canada, but some provinces require a permit.

I’m going to break down each province’s and territories’ laws and regulations on whether or not you can buy and wear body armour in that province or territory.

Alberta

No, you cannot purchase or wear body armour in Alberta, unless you hold a Body Armour Permit.

This surprised me to be honest, because Alberta is what I think of as the “Texas of Canada”, being a mainly conservative province. I thought you would be able to walk in and purchase body armour without question so that you can have the sort of protection you feel necessary to protect you and your family.

Body Armour in Alberta is allowed only to those who have their Body Armour Permit application accepted. These are reviewed on a case-by-case basis, and are only granted to individuals that the province of Alberta deems necessary to have.

Individuals who do not need a permit to obtain body armour in Alberta are licensed security guards, police officers, and emergency health workers.

In order to apply for a body armour permit, you must have no criminal record and prove why you need it for work or personal use.

The province of Alberta lists individuals who may require body armour such as bouncers, justice officials, or people the police have identified as being at risk of harm.

If after all that your permit application is accepted, then you must have the body armour permit on you while wearing or transporting your body armour.

British Columbia

No, you can not purchase or wear body armour in British Columbia as per the Body Armour Control Act, and must hold a valid Body Armour Permit.

New Brunswick

Yes, body armour is allowed to be purchased and worn by residents living in New Brunswick.

Newfoundland & Labrador

Yes, b’y! Body armour is allowed to be purchased and worn by residents living in Newfoundland and Labrador.

(Best-kind)

Northwest Territories

Yes, you’re allowed to purchase and wear body armour in the Northwest Territories.

Nova Scotia

No, you can not purchase or wear body armour in Nova Scotia without a valid body armour permit, as per the Body Armour Control Act.

With the shooting that took place in April 2020, I hope this changes so that every day citizens can have the gear required to protect themselves and their families.

Nunavut

Yes, you’re allowed to purchase and wear body armour in the territory of Nunavut.

Ontario

Yes, purchasing and wearing body armour in Ontario is allowed.

Prince Edward Island

Yes, you can purchase and wear body armour in Prince Edward Island.

Quebec

Oui, you’re allowed to purchase and wear body armour in Quebec.

Saskatchewan

Yes, you can purchase and wear body armour in Saskatchewan.

Manitoba

No, you can not purchase or wear body armour in Manitoba under the Body Armour and Fortified Vehicle Control Act, and would require a Permit to Possess Body Armour.

Application for a Permit to Possess Body Armour

Some of the persons exempt from the Act are government employees that may require the armour for their job, so perhaps military members, security guards, and others.

In the application itself, it asks what purpose the body armour is intended for. Some of the options are Outdoor Recreation, Personal Protection, and Employment, with a box to provide more detail of your reasoning.

It doesn’t seem like the province of Manitoba is completely against the purchasing and wearing of body armour, but they want it documented who has it, as well as complete a background check. Similar to a Possession Acquisition License for a firearm.

Yukon

Yes, you can purchase and wear body armour in the Territory of Yukon.

Conclusion

So there you have it. This is a list of all the provinces and territories in Canada and their respective laws on buying and wearing body armour.

For the most part, it’s completely legal to buy and wear body armour in Canada. Some provinces require an application, a reason, and your money.

I’m currently in the process of having body armour mailed within the United States to the border, since the manufacturer doesn’t ship to Canada.

Body Armour is allowed to be transported to Canada through the border from the US. I had to call Global Affairs Canada to confirm this, and they told me there was no problem with bringing it over to Canada from the US.