End firearm buyback program
Petitioners ask the Liberal government to end its firearm buyback program and instead redirect resources toward combating illegal gun smuggling and unlawful firearm modifications. The government responds that it is removing assault-style firearms, running a voluntary compensation program, boosting border and law‑enforcement capacity, and has set an amnesty deadline of October 30, 2026.
Why we would sign this petition
- Stopping the buyback would avoid the projected taxpayer cost petitioners cite and shift funds from what they view as an inefficient program.
- The petition cites a low-yield pilot in Cape Breton, suggesting voluntary buybacks may collect few guns and deliver limited public‑safety benefit.
- Refocusing on smuggling and illegal modifications targets criminal supply and alterations rather than compensating owners, which could be a more direct enforcement use of resources.
Why we wouldn’t sign this petition
- Ending the buyback would remove a voluntary compensation path that encourages owners to surrender prohibited firearms without criminal enforcement.
- The government says it is already removing assault‑style firearms, operating compensation programs and holding an amnesty to 30 October 2026; cancelling the buyback could disrupt that coordinated approach.
- Redirecting funds to border and investigative work may be necessary but could take longer to reduce firearms in communities than organized collection and compensation efforts.
The summary and both sets of reasons are AI-generated from the petition and given equal weight. Claims are the petitioners’ own; consult the official record for the full text.
Official petition
PETITION TO THE GOVERNMENT OF CANADA: Whereas: the Government's firearm buyback program burdens taxpayers without making our streets safer; And Whereas: The projected cost of the entire buyback program could reach $6 billion to seize a fraction of the guns now banned; And Whereas: The Government's pilot program in Cape Breton, Nova Scotia only collected 25 firearms from 16 individuals; Therefore: We, the undersigned residents of Canada, call upon the Liberal government to end its firearm buyback program and instead direct resources toward combating illegal gun smuggling and gun modifications.
Government response
Response by the Minister of Public Safety Signed by Jacques Ramsay, Parliamentary Secretary The Government of Canada is taking action through its comprehensive approach to address firearms violence and combat crime. This approach includes removing assault-style firearms from Canadian communities, investing in border security and law enforcement capacity to reduce firearms smuggling and trafficking, addressing firearms violence, including in situations of intimate partner and family violence, and supporting intervention and prevention programs addressing gun and gang violence. Since May 2020, over 2,500 makes and models of assault-style firearms have been prohibited. These prohibited assault-style firearms can no longer be legally possessed, sold in, or imported into Canada and can only be transferred or transported under limited circumstances. These firearms with semi-automatic action and sustained rapid-fire capability are not suitable for hunting or sport shooting and exceed safe civilian use. The Assault-Style Firearms Compensation Program (ASFCP) provides an opportunity for individual firearm owners and businesses to seek compensation while coming into compliance with the law. While participation to obtain compensation through the program is voluntary, compliance with the law is not. Individuals who did not declare their prohibited firearms during the declaration period must dispose of or permanently deactivate them before the amnesty period ends on October 30, 2026. The Government is committed to this program being as cost-effective and efficient as possible, while promoting public safety by removing these dangerous firearms from communities. The Program’s overall funding envelope is $742.5?million (including approximately $248.6?million for compensation to individuals and businesses). The ASFCP for individuals opened with a declaration period that began on January 19, 2026, and ran until March 31, 2026. As of April 1, 2026, more than 67,000 assault-style firearms have been declared by 37,869 firearms owners across Canada. Beginning in April, the program will assess declarations submitted by firearms owners. The program will communicate directly with participants to give instructions on how to finalize their claims and then permanently deactivate or make an appointment to turn in their firearms for compensation. Following the assessment period, collection and compensation processes are expected to run from spring through early fall?2026 in various parts of the country. Collection will be undertaken by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, local police or secured mobile collection units. The compensation program for businesses ran successfully between November 2024 and April 2025 for firearms prohibited in May 2020. Over 12,000 firearms have already been collected and destroyed. The program will re-open to eligible businesses on April 23, 2026, to include firearms prohibited in December 2024 and March 2025, and continue to accept those prohibited in May 2020. Results of the ASFCP for individuals and businesses will be reported at the Program’s conclusion.