Federal Firearms Buyback Program Sees Strong Initial Response with Over 22,000 Declarations
The federal Liberal government has announced that gun owners have declared their willingness to surrender more than 22,000 firearms during the first week of its newly launched compensation initiative. Public Safety Minister Gary Anandasangaree's office released the figure, which represents early participation in the controversial program targeting weapons banned since 2020.
Program Details and Approaching Deadlines
Simon LaFortune, a spokesman for Minister Anandasangaree, confirmed that as of Monday afternoon, declarations had been received for 22,251 prohibited weapons. The program focuses on more than 2,500 specific makes and models of firearms that the Liberal government has prohibited over recent years.
Gun owners have until the end of March to declare their intention to participate in the compensation scheme. Following this declaration period, firearm owners must dispose of their banned weapons by the end of October, when an amnesty period protecting them from liability is scheduled to expire. Options include turning firearms over to police or having them professionally deactivated.
Compensation Concerns and Implementation Challenges
Minister Anandasangaree has urged affected gun owners to pay attention to the upcoming deadlines and submit declarations early to improve their chances of receiving compensation. The government plans to distribute payments on a first-come, first-served basis, which has raised concerns among firearms advocacy groups about whether eligible owners will receive adequate compensation for their property.
Federal public safety officials indicate the government intends to collect declared firearms through collaboration with local police services, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, and mobile collection units. However, police participation varies significantly across different regions of the country.
Mixed Police Response Across Provinces
The federal government has secured agreements with police services in Winnipeg, Cape Breton, Nova Scotia, and Halifax to assist with collection efforts. Additionally, Quebec has committed to coordinating collection activities through a $12-million agreement with Ottawa.
Conversely, several police services, particularly in the Greater Toronto Area, have declined participation. Durham Regional Police became the latest to announce its non-involvement, with Police Chief Peter Moreira stating that significant gaps remain within the program, including insufficient operational clarity and resources for safe implementation.
The New Brunswick police chiefs association has similarly expressed concerns about resource limitations. Saint John Police Chief Robert Bruce emphasized that police would not actively search for banned firearms that haven't been voluntarily surrendered, telling media that we're not going looking for you.
Ongoing Debates and Provincial Divisions
The Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police highlighted the lack of consensus among provinces regarding the initiative in a Monday statement. Police leaders continue to voice concerns about operational capacity and resource allocation, creating uncertainty about the program's nationwide implementation as deadlines approach for firearm owners.
