To answer 'what you've heard'
I only catch little bits of information from forums like this one. I've heard everything from Canada has a tiered license system which requires a long and expensive process to be able to buy something like a semiautomatic rifle and that every gun is registered. I've heard that at every step of the way the government has the "right" to say no, you have too many guns already, or you can't buy it, etc. I've heard that most Canadians don't have or can't get the license one needs for a semiautomatic long gun or pistol.
Every gun IS registered to your name, if you give it to a friend to keep and he moves away and you do not tell the government, or he doesn't have a licence, if they find out you no longer have it you will face charges. As long as you have a clean record (mental/criminal) you can apply for a gun licence. Licensing falls into two catagories
Non Restricted, Restricted and Prohibited
Click here to understand what each class is
Anyone applicable for a licence can get a non-restricted/restricted licence
've heard that even if you can get a handgun, the barrel has to be 5" or longer or something to that effect. I've also heard that there's a 10 round limit or something to that effect on all magazines
4.1" to be exact. Anything less is prohib and not legal to own (unless you have a prohib licence, they are not issued to regular people). The 10 round magazine limit is correct, no more otherwise its prohibited.
I've even heard that western provinces in Canada ignore many of the federal gun laws completely and just don't enforce them.
I don't know who told you this, where you heard it, but I HIGHLY doubt it to be true. Every province follows the BASE rules the government has set up, everyone registers and all firearms are classed. Some provinces are very strict on authorization to transport (see below). In my province my ATT is good for 5 years, to any range and any of my restricted guns.
Strangely enough I've also heard that a shotgun barrel shorter than 18.5" is no big deal assuming one is legally allowed to own a shotgun and doesn't require any special registration or tax stamp, and that Canadians can import a lot of firearms no American can
A definite 'pro' of the canadian system. Pump/break action shotguns are not classified the same as other guns, and they are only classed by overall length. So if the barrel is 14" but with the stock the overall length is over 26" then it is non-restricted. If its less than 26" including the use of a folding stock/pistol grip, it is restricted. Either way, you can own it and its no big deal.
I've heard that if a Canadian does own a pistol, he can only carry it to certain designations, and it must be unloaded and carried in a locked container.
All restricted guns (handguns are all restricted) must be transported like you mentioned. They all must have an ATT (authorization to transport), this is a form that you apply for by talking to your CFO (chief firearms officer) of your province. Basically you fill out a form, fax it in to the CFO and they approve the transportation of your restricted firearms. Mentioned above, some provinces are completley anal about this and you have to apply EVERY time you goto the damn range... its pathetic.
Canadian gun laws aren't quite as tight as I originally thought.
They are tighter than yours, but not as tight as some other countries. Generally magazine capacity, barrel length and weapon types are all governed. Sometimes a weapon, even though it falls into a restricted/non-restricted classification (such as its overall length/barrel length) are still deemed prohibited...
Its retarded because say for example you want to buy an AK, the government basically labeled it as prohibited because it "looks menacing". I'm not kidding, we aren't allowed to have it becauase even though it could be legal by its dimensions they said no cause its 'evil'. These are the things I hate, they did this with all the FNfals, the AK's, Uzi's, and any 'bullpup' design.
That link I gave pretty much will answer ALL of these questions, and just for kick look at the "weapons prescribed as 'restricted/prohibited'". All those weapons deemed restricted, means that we cannot hunt with them or bring them anywhere other than a range, and the ones deemed prohib are the ones that we cannot have, period.