Public safety minister defends gun buyback program after pilot sees low uptake

Public refuge government minister Gary Anandasangaree is heralding the examine go of the government's marquise gun control policy as a success — despite the pilot receiving low uptake. 

Since 2020 Ottawa has banned some 2,500 types of firearms. The government has argued the makes and models on its list are for warfare — not hunters and sport shooters. 

The policy has faced opposition from the Conservatives and firearm-rights groups who argue the move punishes law-abiding gun owners instead of going after criminals. 

In response, the government promised to buy back those firearms as a way to fairly compensate owners.

A test run of the buyback program had little pickup. At the outset Ottawa had hoped to collect 200 firearms during a six-week pilot in Cape Breton, N.S. — instead just 25 were surrendered from 16 people.

The results, made public last week, are raising questions how the more than $700-million program will work when it's rolled out coast to coast.

"As an overall pilot, I believe it is successful," said Anandasangaree during a news conference on Monday.

"We wanted to test the capabilities that we have to both be able to register as well as recover the firearms that people wanted to voluntarily hand over to us."

Government 'well poised' to launch gun buyback after pilot phase collected 25 firearms: Minister

Anandasangaree maintained the pilot wasn't about "quantitative" results.

"When we roll out the program in its full form in the upcoming weeks, we do anticipate much greater uptake," he said. 

"We were able to correct a number of issues that people had identified, both on the online portal and in other means. And I believe we're well poised to be able to launch the program in the coming weeks."

His department would not say which makes and models were returned during the pilot. 

Low uptake isn't the only problem facing the program. Few provinces and police forces have officially signed on.

Alberta's government released a detailed plan in December to fight the program, calling it an unconstitutional attack on its citizens' rights.

Under proposed legislation, Alberta said it will take all reasonable steps to ensure that neither the government, nor any "provincial entity" participates in the implementation or enforcement of the federal policy.

Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe has also vowed to fight the program while Ontario Premier Doug Ford has said he doesn't want provincial money funding the collection.

So far Ottawa has announced one agreement to support the program: a $12.4-million deal with Quebec.

The RCMP and Quebec provincial police, along with the Cape Breton, Halifax and Winnipeg police services, have also agreed to take part. 

Public Safety Canada said it didn't have an estimate of how many guns it intends to collect during the national rollout.

The amnesty period for possessing a banned firearm comes to an end later this year. Owners have until Oct. 30 to dispose or deactivate their listed firearms or face legal consequences.

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