Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) have announced that they will not be partaking in the federal government’s buyback program for prohibited assault-style firearms. This decision comes after discussions with the provincial government, as confirmed by an OPP representative, Gosia Puzio, in an email on Friday. Puzio stated that the OPP lacks the necessary capability to collect all ‘assault-style’ firearms across the province.
Although individuals can surrender prohibited firearms at an OPP detachment, they will not receive any compensation for doing so. The OPP’s stance aligns with various other Ontario police departments and some provinces that have also opted out of participating in the federal program. Concerns have been raised by police services in southwestern Ontario regarding the operational details of the buyback program and its potential impact on their resources.
The federal government’s Assault-Style Firearms Compensation Program aims to encourage gun owners to surrender over 2,500 illegal makes and models since 2020. These firearms, such as the AR-15, are deemed suitable for warfare rather than hunting or sport. It is important to note that assault-style weapons differ from assault rifles, which are fully automatic and already banned for civilian possession.
Individuals interested in the buyback program must complete a declaration process by March 31. The program has a funding pool of $248.6 million, and applications are processed on a first-come, first-served basis, with no guaranteed payouts. However, all listed weapon owners must dispose of or “permanently deactivate” their firearms before the amnesty period concludes on Oct. 30, 2026.