People protest against a federal firearms ban and compensation program in front of the legislature in Quebec City, Saturday, Feb. 28, 2026. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jacques Boissinot

By The Canadian Press

Gun control group criticizes Ottawa over ‘poor participation’ in firearm buyback

Mar 25, 2026 | 10:37 AM

OTTAWA — Gun control group PolySeSouvient blames “weak political leadership” for what it calls “poor participation” in the federal compensation program for banned firearms.

Public Safety Minister Gary Anandasangaree said Tuesday that gun owners had reported more than 52,000 firearms to the government with one week left to go in a program to provide compensation for banned guns.

That figure is well short of the 136,000 firearms for which the Liberal government set aside compensation money when the buyback for individual owners opened in January.

In a media statement today, PolySeSouvient says weak messaging about the program has failed to counter misinformation and disingenuous provincial manoeuvring.

Since May 2020, Ottawa has outlawed about 2,500 types of firearms, including the AR-15 and Ruger Mini-14, on the basis they belong only on the battlefield.

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Prohibited firearms and devices must be disposed of or deactivated by the end of the amnesty period on Oct. 30, regardless of whether owners take part in the compensation program.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 25, 2026.

Jim Bronskill, The Canadian Press