You can get a gun permit in Canada, as long as you have a clean record, are not mentally unstable and you take a firearms safety course. There are also other requirements such as safe storage. I have included a link below.
According to the RCMP website, there are 1.9 million firearm licence holders in Canada
https://www.rcmp-grc.gc.ca/cfp-pcaf/index-eng.htm
Interesting. But, unless I'm misinformed or missing something, Canada doesn't allow concealed carry. Which defeats the point for self defense.