Public Safety Minister Gary Anandasangaree has described the trial run of the government’s flagship gun control initiative as a success, despite the initial phase receiving limited participation. Since 2020, Ottawa has prohibited approximately 2,500 varieties of firearms, contending that the listed makes and models are intended for military use rather than for hunting or sports shooting.
The policy has encountered opposition from the Conservative party and firearm-rights organizations, who argue that the measure unfairly targets law-abiding gun owners instead of addressing criminal activity. In response to concerns, the government pledged to repurchase the banned firearms to ensure fair compensation for owners.
The trial run of the buyback program yielded minimal results. Initially aiming to collect 200 firearms during a six-week trial in Cape Breton, Nova Scotia, only 25 were surrendered by 16 individuals. These outcomes, disclosed last week, have raised doubts about the effectiveness of the over $700-million program when it expands nationwide.
Anandasangaree, speaking at a press briefing on Monday, stated, “I consider the overall pilot to be successful. We tested our capacity to register and retrieve firearms voluntarily relinquished by individuals.” He emphasized that the pilot was not solely about numerical outcomes but about refining the program for the forthcoming full-scale launch.
Despite the low uptake, several provinces have expressed resistance to the program. Alberta released a detailed plan in December to oppose the initiative, labeling it an infringement on citizens’ rights. Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe and Ontario Premier Doug Ford have also voiced opposition to the program, with Ford expressing reluctance to allocate provincial funds for the buyback.
Critics have questioned the legitimacy of Minister Anandasangaree, citing leaked comments where he appeared to doubt the program’s efficacy and hinted at personal compensation for gun owners dissatisfied with government payments. The government’s handling of the program will be closely monitored by gun-control advocacy group PolySeSouvient.
Quebec is the only province to have signed on to support the buyback program, with the federal government securing a $12.4 million agreement with the province. Several law enforcement agencies, including the RCMP, Quebec provincial police, and police services in Cape Breton, Halifax, and Winnipeg, have agreed to participate. The government has not provided an estimate of the number of firearms expected to be collected during the national rollout.
The amnesty period for possessing banned firearms is set to conclude later this year, with owners required to dispose of or deactivate their listed firearms by October 30 to avoid legal repercussions.