Ottawa unveils next steps in its national gun buyback program. Here are the details
CBC
The federal government has unveiled the next steps in its national gun buyback program — and Canadians will have about two months to declare their interest in participating in order to receive compensation for turning in outlawed firearms.
Since 2020, Ottawa has banned about 2,500 makes and models of what the federal government calls "assault-style" firearms, arguing they are designed for warfare — not for hunting or sport shooting.
At a news conference on Saturday afternoon, Public Safety Minister Gary Anandasangaree said that "the compensation program is voluntary, but compliance with the law is not."
"Please take advantage of the program we're announcing today," he added.
During a technical briefing for reporters on Saturday morning, an official from the federal government said the declaration period begins Monday and will run until March 31. Canadians can file declarations through the program's online portal or by paper.
Compensation payments will be issued within 45 business days of a successful validation of the outlawed firearm. The official said the pool of funding is $248.6 million — which will let the government pay for about 136,000 outlawed firearms from individual Canadians.
After the March 31 deadline, firearm owners who have not submitted a declaration can't participate in the program, meaning they won't receive compensation for turning in their outlawed firearms.
The briefing documents also said compensation will be determined on a first-come, first-served basis, based on the date the declaration is submitted and the availability of program funds at that time.
The documents also confirm that the amnesty period for possessing banned guns will end on Oct. 30, 2026. Afterwards, anyone in possession "will be breaking the law and could face criminal prosecution."
If a firearm owner does not participate in the program, they can permanently deactivate their firearms at their own expense, turn in their firearms to local police for no compensation or export their firearms if they hold a permit, the documents said.
The federal official also told reporters that once the nationwide declaration process is underway, the government will reopen the buyback program for businesses that have prohibited firearms.
The buyback program has faced opposition from some gun owners and the Conservative Party of Canada — who have argued the federal government is punishing law-abiding gun owners with a policy that won't make Canada safer.
Earlier this week, Manitoba Justice Minister Matt Wiebe said his province won't administer the initiative. At the end of last year, Alberta unveiled its plan to fight the program.
Saskatchewan also introduced changes to its firearms legislation last November, proposing that anyone who seizes a firearm under the federal government's laws must pay the owner fair market value as determined by the Saskatchewan Firearms Commissioner.
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