Ottawa (Rajeev Sharma): The Canadian federal government has announced the next phase of its national gun buyback program, giving firearm owners roughly two months to declare their intent to participate in order to receive compensation for turning in prohibited weapons.
Under the program, which was first announced in 2020, the government has banned approximately 2,500 makes and models of what it classifies as “assault-style” firearms, arguing these weapons are designed for combat rather than hunting or sport shooting.
Speaking at a press conference on Saturday, Public Safety Minister Gary Anandasangaree said participation in the compensation scheme is optional, but compliance with the law is mandatory. He urged affected firearm owners to take advantage of the program within the stipulated timeline.
According to officials, the declaration window will open on Monday and remain available until March 31, 2026. Declarations can be submitted either online through the government portal or via paper applications. Once a declaration is successfully validated, compensation payments will be issued within 45 business days.
The federal government has allocated a total of $248.6 million for the program, which is expected to cover compensation for around 136,000 prohibited firearms owned by individuals. Officials clarified that compensation will be provided on a first-come, first-served basis, depending on the date of declaration and the availability of funds.
After the March 31 deadline, firearm owners who have not submitted a declaration will no longer be eligible for compensation. Additionally, the amnesty period for possessing banned firearms will end on October 30, 2026. After that date, possession of such weapons will be illegal and could lead to criminal prosecution.
For those choosing not to participate in the buyback, alternatives include permanently deactivating the firearm at personal expense, surrendering it to local police without compensation, or exporting it if the owner holds a valid permit.
Officials also confirmed that once the national declaration process is underway, the government will reopen the buyback program for businesses holding prohibited firearms.
The initiative continues to face resistance from some provincial governments and gun owner groups. Alberta and Saskatchewan have declined to administer the program due to provincial legislation, though residents in those provinces may still submit declarations. Manitoba has also said it will not oversee the program locally.
Gun rights organizations have criticized the buyback as costly and ineffective, while gun control advocacy groups have welcomed it, calling the move a step forward for public safety and arguing that such firearms pose serious risks and are commonly linked to mass shootings.
Despite earlier controversy surrounding comments made by the public safety minister regarding enforcement challenges, the federal government has reiterated that the prohibitions will not be reconsidered and that the program remains a key part of its public safety strategy
