The Nunavut government has announced its decision not to utilize police resources for the federal gun buyback initiative, citing that the proposed solutions by Ottawa are not applicable to the territory. Over 2,500 varieties of “assault-style” firearms have been prohibited in Canada since 2020, with the federal government offering to repurchase them from businesses and individuals under an amnesty order.
Andrew Blackadar, Nunavut’s assistant deputy minister for public safety, expressed concerns about the strain the program could place on police forces, especially considering the remote nature of Nunavut’s communities. The territory has 140 officers spread across 25 police detachments, as reported by Nunavut’s Bureau of Statistics for 2023, with staffing levels varying and some smaller communities having minimal officer presence.
Public Safety Canada assured that the gun buyback program will not compromise frontline police work, mentioning that the RCMP will receive separate funding for firearm collection activities, along with additional resources such as police reservists and public servants. However, Nunavut’s justice department emphasized that all police resources, including reservists and public servants, are funded through the territorial police service agreement and will not be utilized for firearm collection.
Blackadar suggested the involvement of a third-party contractor to handle the firearm collection process. Gun owners with banned firearms can declare them to the federal government until the end of March, after which it will be illegal to possess them. The options provided are to surrender the firearms or have them permanently deactivated. The RCMP will collect firearms in Nunavut, or owners can opt to ship them for deactivation, with detailed instructions to be provided post the national declaration period.
Nunavut’s justice department highlighted that Ottawa has not shared the plan with them, and there has been a lack of communication from the territorial government regarding the program since the summer. Sgt. George Henrie of the Nunavut RCMP also stated his lack of information on the program to offer further insights. Concerns have been raised by all three territories with regards to the program, with the N.W.T. government and Yukon government also expressing their reservations about participating in the buyback initiative.
Ottawa has clarified that the program targets firearms designed for warfare, distinct from those used for hunting or sport shooting. Public Safety Canada indicated that there are 124 assault-style firearms in Nunavut, affecting only a small portion of the territory’s population.