OTTAWA—The federal government has pushed back the restart of its compensation process for firearms retailers saddled with inventory made illegal under recent federal bans. The resumption of this confiscation compensation program, initially expected later this fall, is now postponed to an unspecified date[i].
This comes as Prime Minister Mark Carney’s government prepares to move ahead with a national confiscation and compensation program targeting individual gun owners. According to Public Safety Minister Gary Anandasangaree, this broader rollout is expected before year’s end[ii].
Back in September, the government announced a pilot program in Cape Breton, Nova Scotia, for individuals affected by the sweeping bans on so-called “assault-style” firearms. At that time, Public Safety signaled that businesses would see the next phase of their compensation program “in the coming weeks,” after the initial round closed last spring[iii]. Federal websites and public communications continued to reference a fall resumption for retailers, a timeline now officially scrapped without a clear replacement.
Simon Lafortune, spokesperson for Minister Anandasangaree, confirmed, “We will be reopening the second round of the business phase of the Assault-Style Firearms Compensation Program. The exact date will be shared soon.”[iv]
The Canadian Sporting Arms and Ammunition Association, which has been tasked by the federal government with consulting on compensation pricing since 2023, has cited “indefinite delay” from Ottawa[v].
No official explanation has been provided for the latest postponement. Federal officials claim to be working with industry stakeholders and law enforcement to ensure the program, once resumed, will run “efficiently and securely.” “Further updates will be provided as implementation work progresses, and the government thanks Canadian businesses for their continued cooperation and patience,” Lafortune said[vi].
The federal bans first appeared as a campaign promise by former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in 2019, followed by an order-in-council in May 2020 prohibiting roughly 1,500 models, including the AR-15, in the wake of the Portapique tragedy. Since then, hundreds more types have been added through orders in December 2024 and March 2025. Over 2,500 makes and models are now banned in Canada[vii].
Retailers have borne the brunt of these sweeping prohibitions. The government’s amnesty order, meant to last two years, has now been extended until October 2026, allowing owners to store confiscated property temporarily without facing criminal liability[viii].
During the first phase of retailer compensation, more than 12,000 firearms were collected from businesses, with $22 million paid out by the original April 30 deadline[ix]. Many gun shops have faced major financial losses, having to store devalued inventory—some forced to cease operations altogether.
For individual firearms owners, the government has yet to release results from the Cape Breton pilot, which was designed to test the online portal, collection, and destruction process for a maximum of 200 confiscated firearms. Early reports suggest only 10 to 22 firearms were actually collected, but Public Safety Canada has not confirmed precise numbers[x]. Cape Breton police indicated the federal government would be releasing all information.
Minister Anandasangaree told reporters this week that the government is analyzing results and that “technical capabilities have been satisfied.” The department maintains that the national confiscation and compensation program is expected to be launched “within weeks,” with a full report on the pilot to precede the broader rollout[xi].
The Canadian Shooting Sports Association will continue to update members as the federal government’s confiscation and compensation programs for both businesses and individual firearms owners unfold.
Footnotes and Sources
[i] National Post: Ottawa delays planned restart of gun ‘buyback’ program for retailers with banned stock
[ii] Public Safety Canada: Assault-Style Firearms Compensation Program
[iii] National Post article, September announcement details
[iv] Statement from Simon Lafortune, National Post
[v] Canadian Sporting Arms and Ammunition Association (CSAAA)
[vi] National Post, government communications
[vii] Public Safety Canada: Firearms Prohibitions
[viii] Public Safety Canada: Amnesty Order extension
[ix] National Post: 12,000 guns collected, $22M compensation
[x] National Post: Cape Breton pilot, collection numbers
[xi] National Post: government to launch national program by end of 2025
1 Comment
Tom
CSAAA has actually voluntarily signed a contract with the federal government to provide data regarding quantities of firearms being held by businesses. Just to be clear that CSAAA was not really “tasked” but rather “has agreed to for the purposes of earning taxpayer monies”. Smh.