The Canadian government has acknowledged gaining insights from a recent trial initiative aimed at purchasing prohibited firearms from owners, which had a limited response. In the past year, approximately 2,500 types of firearms categorized as “assault-style” were banned by Ottawa, citing their military design unsuitable for hunting or sports shooting. This move faced criticism from the Conservative opposition and gun-rights organizations. The government proposed a buyback scheme to compensate owners fairly.
A voluntary pilot project, lasting six weeks, was initiated this autumn in Cape Breton, Nova Scotia, to test the buyback process. Expecting to collect around 200 firearms, officials were disappointed to find only 25 firearms surrendered and destroyed, with the participation of 16 individuals. Details about the types of firearms handed in during the trial were not disclosed.
According to a statement by Simon Lafortune, spokesperson for Public Safety Minister Gary Anandasangare, the pilot served as a mechanism to evaluate the program’s operations, strengths, weaknesses, and potential obstacles before its nationwide launch. The government acknowledged shortcomings in the registration process and instructions, along with functional issues in the online portal that may have caused confusion for participants.
Furthermore, the government pledged financial support of up to $12.4 million to assist Quebec in executing its own buyback program. Quebec’s Public Security Minister, Ian Lafrenière, expressed support for the federal initiative, labeling it a move towards enhancing community safety. The amnesty period for owning banned firearms has been extended multiple times, with the current deadline set for October 30, 2026.
