As a fact they do consider it a variant.
"2. The firearm of the design commonly known as the
M-16 rifle, and any variant or modified version of it, including the
(a) Colt AR-15;
(b) Colt AR-15 SPI;
(c) Colt AR-15 Sporter;
(d) Colt AR-15 Collapsible Stock Model;
(e) Colt AR-15 A2;
(f) Colt AR-15 A2 Carbine;
(g) Colt AR-15 A2 Government Model Rifle;
(h) Colt AR-15 A2 Government Model Target Rifle;
(i) Colt AR-15 A2 Government Model Carbine;
(j) Colt AR-15 A2 Sporter II;
(k) Colt AR-15 A2 H-BAR;
(l) Colt AR-15 A2 Delta H-BAR;
(m) Colt AR-15 A2 Delta H-BAR Match;
Colt AR-15 9mm Carbine;
(o) Armalite AR-15;
(p) AAI M15;
(
q) AP74;
Quote Originally Posted by Moe View Post
My AP74 22lr rifle with a 15rd mag and looking like an AR15 is restricted because it looks like an AR15. Not one single part is interchangeable with an AR15.
Moe
The ap74 is on the named restricted list because of looks. The RCMP didn't classify it as an AR15, the government did when they wrote the regulation.