Public Safety Minister Gary Anandasangaree recently reassured an individual about the unlikelihood of facing arrest for not surrendering a prohibited firearm due to limited resources available to municipal police for such cases. Anandasangaree disclosed details in an audio conversation with the gun owner, mentioning the upcoming announcement of a new phase in the federal firearm buyback program and a pilot project in Nova Scotia.
The Canadian Coalition for Firearm Rights shared the unauthorized recording of the conversation, where Anandasangaree mentioned that approximately 2,500 assault-style firearms have been banned by the federal government since May 2020. The buyback program aims to compensate owners fairly for their prohibited firearms and has declared an amnesty period until Oct. 30 to safeguard owners from legal consequences while surrendering or deactivating their firearms.
During the conversation, Anandasangaree downplayed the likelihood of the acquaintance being apprehended, citing resource constraints within municipal police services. He also stated that the budget for the buyback program is capped at $742 million. Responding to the leaked recording, Anandasangaree acknowledged the conversation with a long-time acquaintance, expressed regret for his comments, and reiterated his commitment to implementing the policy.
In the House of Commons, Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre criticized Anandasangaree’s remarks in the recording, questioning the minister’s support for the buyback program. Anandasangaree defended the government’s stance on responsible gun control, while Poilievre accused the Liberals of misallocating funds that could benefit law enforcement and border security to target law-abiding gun owners instead.
