Date: April 4, 2026 l Reporter: Musa Amed
Fewer than 2,500 prohibited firearms were declared in some parts of Canada under the federal government’s gun buyback program, highlighting concerns about low participation as the national deadline passed.
According to recent reports, only about 2,442 firearm owners in Manitoba declared their intention to surrender banned weapons before the March 31, 2026 deadline, raising questions about the effectiveness of the program in certain regions.
The initiative is part of Canada’s broader effort to remove “assault-style” firearms from civilian circulation, following a nationwide ban on more than 2,500 models introduced in 2020.
Despite the low figures in some provinces, national data shows that over 67,000 firearms were declared across Canada by more than 37,000 owners, indicating uneven participation across the country.
Officials had initially projected a much higher number of declarations, with expectations that over 130,000 firearms could be surrendered under the compensation program. However, the final tally has fallen significantly short of that estimate.
Critics of the program argue that the low turnout reflects mistrust among gun owners and concerns over how the policy was implemented. Some advocacy groups have also questioned whether the program targets lawful firearm owners rather than addressing illegal gun trafficking and criminal use.
Under the policy, individuals who declared their prohibited firearms will receive compensation and must turn them over to authorities during the next phase of the program. Those who failed to declare their weapons are required to deactivate or dispose of them before the amnesty period ends on October 30, 2026, or risk facing criminal penalties.
The federal government maintains that the program is a critical step toward improving public safety and reducing gun violence, even as debate continues over its effectiveness and scope.
As Canada moves into the next phase of implementation, attention remains focused on whether the program will achieve its goal of significantly reducing the number of prohibited firearms in circulation.