Saskatchewan opens permanent lab for ballistics testing

Saskatchewan’s first permanent ballistics lab is officially open.

The provincial government announced the opening of the permanent location of the Saskatchewan Ballistics Laboratory on Monday in Saskatoon. The Government of Saskatchewan spent nearly $3.35 million to establish the lab that will eventually conduct firearms testing for all law-enforcement agencies in the province in a move intended to strengthen gun-related criminal investigations.

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The provincial government said the lab is equipped with plenty of advanced technology, “including a MILO Range for controlled testing, a water tank and cotton box to safely capture bullets and casings, a comparison microscope and BrassTrax technology for detailed analysis, and a Laboratory Information Management System to securely manage case data and results.”

The comparative microscope, pictured here, will allow specialists to do casing comparisons. These specialists will have the training to write reports required for court to determine whether a cartridge fired from a particular gun. (Marija Robinson/650 CKOM)

Tim McLeod, Saskatchewan’s minister of corrections, policing and public safety and Saskatchewan Firearms Commissioner Robert Freberg officially opened the permanent location of the lab on Monday.

Corrections, Policing and Public Safety Minister Tim McLeod said that the new lab will help more than just law enforcement in Saskatchewan.

“The Firearms office and ballistics lab are now sharing intelligence and test results with ballistics labs and law enforcement agencies in other provinces and countries to resolve criminal investigations and prevent the trafficking of illegal firearms into our communities,” said Mcleod.

“Prior to the lab’s opening, all firearms testing was completed out of province at the RCMP National Forensic Lab,” said Mcleod.

He said that having the lab in Saskatchewan, will make a massive difference.

“Since the temporary lab opened in Saskatoon, wait times for firearms testing have dropped from months to a matter of days,” said Mcleod.

Freberg, said that the lab has already played a key role in some shocking discoveries.

“About a week or two after we opened up the lab, we actually had a firearm that came to us from Saskatoon police service that had the serial number obliterated,” he said.

“We were able to test fire that casing, uploaded into the cyber network that we work with the RCMP partners, and trace that gun back to a homicide in Atlanta,” he said.

“The ATF, in partnership with us, was actually able to find the owner of that firearm who was the perpetrator of this crime, and they had no leads up until that point,” said Freberg.

“The Saskatchewan Ballistics Lab has been a turning point in how crimes involving firearms are investigated in our province, providing over 900 firearm examinations and services since commencing operations,” McLeod said in a statement.

“With the opening of a permanent lab, our government is committed to providing law enforcement with the tools and expertise they need to secure and protect Saskatchewan families and communities.”

Previously, the lab was operating at a temporary location inside Saskatoon Police Service headquarters. The provincial government said that since the opening of the temporary lab in 2024, wait times for firearms testing have dropped from months to days.

The firearms testing range allows specialists to use the equipment in the centre to test guns that are damaged. It’s used if there’s a safety issue with the firearm, allowing it to fire through a remote system while people wait outside the heavily reinforced room. The white material at the back is ballistic gel, which is a self-healing material that can take tens of thousands of rounds and close up after a round goes through. (Marija Robinson/650 CKOM)

“We are grateful to the Saskatoon Police Service for hosting the temporary lab and supporting this important work as we constructed the permanent facility,” Freberg said. “With the opening of the Ballistics Lab, we look forward to continuing our work of supporting investigations, building partnerships and advocating for lawful firearms owners.”

“This new space will enhance our capacity to support firearms-related criminal investigations across the province,” added David Marit, minister responsible for SaskBuilds and Procurement.

‘In addition to working with local police agencies, the provincial government said the lab will also work with “international law enforcement partners, including the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives to share intelligence and trace firearms to address public safety concerns, such as firearms smuggling, which are often responsible for the majority of crimes involving firearms in Saskatchewan and Canada.”