The Canadian government has announced the latest phase of its national firearm buyback initiative, giving citizens approximately two months to express their interest in participating to receive compensation for surrendering prohibited firearms. Since 2020, Ottawa has prohibited around 2,500 varieties of what it terms as “assault-style” firearms, contending that they are intended for combat purposes rather than hunting or sports shooting.
During a press briefing, Public Safety Minister Gary Anandasangaree emphasized the voluntary nature of the compensation program while stressing the importance of abiding by the law. The declaration period commences on Monday and extends until March 31, allowing Canadians to submit declarations either online or via paper forms.
Compensation payments will be disbursed within 45 business days following the successful validation of the banned firearm. The allocated funding amounts to $248.6 million, enabling the government to cover approximately 136,000 outlawed firearms from individual owners. Failure to submit a declaration by the March 31 deadline disqualifies firearm owners from participating in the program and receiving compensation.
Compensation will be processed on a first-come, first-served basis, depending on the submission date of the declaration and the availability of program funds. The amnesty period for possessing banned firearms will conclude on October 30, 2026, after which illegal possession may lead to criminal prosecution.
Gun owners who opt out of the buyback program can choose to permanently deactivate their firearms at their own cost, surrender them to local law enforcement without compensation, or export them with the appropriate permits. Additionally, the government plans to reopen the program for businesses with restricted firearms once the national declaration process is underway.
Despite opposition from some gun owners and the Conservative Party of Canada, Anandasangaree defended the buyback program, asserting that removing assault-style firearms from communities enhances public safety. A coalition of gun control advocates welcomed the program, labeling it a positive step for public safety and emphasizing the serious risks posed by outlawed firearms in terms of mass shootings and attacks on law enforcement.
The program faced resistance from several provinces, with Alberta, Manitoba, and Saskatchewan expressing their dissent and proposing alternative measures. Critics, including the Canadian Coalition for Firearm Rights, criticized the program as wasteful and ineffective, urging the government to consider broader compensation for affected gun owners.
The federal government had conducted a voluntary pilot project in Nova Scotia last fall, which resulted in the collection and destruction of only 25 firearms, far below the anticipated numbers. Anandasangaree faced scrutiny for his remarks implying leniency towards non-compliant firearm owners, clarifying later that law enforcement agencies have the capacity to enforce the buyback program effectively.