The Canadian government is set to launch a gun buyback initiative for individuals starting next month in Cape Breton, Nova Scotia. This voluntary program, announced by Public Safety Minister Gary Anandasangaree, allows gun owners to either surrender their firearms or render them inoperable with no confiscation involved. The pilot project aims to ensure smooth operations before rolling out nationwide later this fall.
In a briefing, government officials clarified that participation in the program is optional, giving gun owners the choice to hand over their firearms or make them non-functional. Anandasangaree also disclosed the reopening of the buyback program for businesses this fall, which has already collected 12,000 prohibited firearms and disbursed $22 million in compensation.
Residents with valid gun licenses in Cape Breton will receive notifications from the RCMP regarding their eligibility for the program. An online portal launching on October 1 will allow interested gun owners to register, following which they will be scheduled for firearm collection by the Cape Breton Regional Police Service.
This initiative fulfills Prime Minister Mark Carney’s election pledge to enhance the assault-style firearm buyback program initiated in 2020 after the tragic mass shooting in Portapique, N.S. The government has prohibited 2,500 types of assault-style firearms since 2020, offering owners a grace period to surrender or deactivate their weapons to comply with the law.
Anandasangaree emphasized the importance of abiding by the regulations, stating that failure to surrender or deactivate banned firearms within the amnesty period constitutes a violation of the law. The minister assured that law enforcement agencies would ensure compliance and enforce the law effectively. Gun owners and businesses must adhere to the law to avoid criminal liability for illegal possession of prohibited firearms by the end of the amnesty period.
Recent controversies surround Anandasangaree’s remarks captured on an audio recording, where he assured a gun owner of bail if faced with non-compliance consequences, prompting calls for his dismissal by Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre. Despite the backlash, Anandasangaree defended the buyback program, citing its importance to Quebec voters and the province’s historical sensitivity to gun control issues following tragic events like the École Polytechnique massacre in 1989 and the Quebec City mosque shooting in 2017.
