I should have emailed I tried calling and never got thru. Thanks for posting. Essentially what I plan on doing is basically assemble a kit gun just from various parts not a presold kit. I'm not actually manufacturing anything except the stock. All parts would be pre manufactured but with our governing body I'll look into it as well
That would be "my definition" of manufacture - a component made from raw materials. We'll have to see what the RCMP/CFO thinks "manufacture" is defined as....
Where are you located? I am in Oshawa.
I'm not sure that following up with further inquiries is a good idea.
In my case, I kind of need to know, been self employed for 30+ years and just recently spoke to a lawyer (I have several dozen lawyers as clients

) His strong suggestion was that I maintain a separate business (not FBL) license for the muzzle loaders AND incorporate. The first because it is apparently illegal to operate a business using a trade name other than your own name without a business license (in Ontario at least) - 2 trade names, 2 licenses needed. Incorporation is (strongly) suggested for liability.
Handcrafting muzzleloading guns is something that has gone on for a long time.
No individual part in a lock-stock-barrel muzzleloading gun of any ignition system is controlled. Better if it stays that way.
True, but percussion locks still get held up by the CBSA. Particularly if you use a shipping company that does their own customs clearing (UPS/Fedex etc) - they will label your stuff "gun parts" on their customs forms then it gets to sit at CBSA for a couple months before CBSA decides the parts are not ITAR or controlled parts in Canada. (ask me how I know this

)
Consider for a moment - what is a business? It is an activity designed to generate income.
Anything the CRA says is business activity! hahaha! and I am way more afraid of CRA than RCMP, CFO, CBSA or Al Quiada!
Basically (in Ontario at least) you can make up to $20,000 or $30,000 (I forget which) so long as it is claimed as income and you are not using a trade name - as soon as you do either of those, they want a business license and HST remittance.....
Making a one-off personal firearm is in no way a business activity. If you read the law carefully, it is apparent that business licenses are related to commercial activity. This is just another example of the powers-that-be changing policy on the basis of opinion, without any change to law or regulation.
I would tend to agree, though this is somewhat in conflict with your first comment in this thread
The RCMP is incredibly vague about this whole thing here :
https://www.rcmp-grc.gc.ca/en/firearms/licensing-businesses it says:
A business, museum or organization needs a firearms business licence to possess, manufacture, or sell
- ammunition
- firearms
- restricted weapons
- prohibited weapons
- prohibited devices
With no mention of non-restricted firearms ... then here:
https://www.rcmp-grc.gc.ca/en/firearms/changes-service-fees we see:
Retail sale of firearms:
- b) selling 50 or more non-restricted firearms
and
Manufacture, processing or assembly, other than any activity referred to in item 14:
The first indicating that selling less than 50 non-restricted does not need a BFL.
The second not referring to sales at all seeming to indicate that manufacture regardless of use requires a license.
So confusing ... but for the case of the OP the question is really:
"Does the assembly of a non-restricted kit gun require a BFL if the item is assembled by an individual for personal use?"
As an individual - I would think "no"