Minister Rachel Bendayan, Associate Minister of Public Safety announced the prohibition of 179 additional makes and models of firearms, including more anti-gun measures today. An Amnesty Order, which expires March 1, 2026, is in place for these newly prohibited firearms.

Effective immediately, the Liberal Government has added 179 new makes and models of firearms. This extends their previously announced attacks on legal firearms business and owners, including their prohibition over 2,000 models of firearms as well as halting the handgun market.

During this announcement, it was noted that the confiscation program (referred to as the “buyback” or “Assault-Style Firearms Compensation Program” that was launched for businesses only in December, has been “extremely successful” and has seen nearly 7,500 firearms returned by businesses for destruction. However, given that the vast majority of claims come from businesses relying on these funds just to stay afloat, and considering these firearms are not the ones being used in crime, it’s difficult to see this as a true success. Instead, it is a waste of important resources and taxpayer dollars.

Phase 2 of the compensation program for individuals is expected to begin in spring 2025. This phase will provide compensation to individual firearm owners, with local police jurisdictions assisting in the surrender of prohibited firearms. The minister emphasized that the government aims to “do it right,” citing the delay as necessary to ensure a secure system that protects personal information and coordinates effectively with law enforcement agencies across Canada. The RCMP has been working closely with Public Safety Canada and all 194 police jurisdictions to develop a coordinated approach for collecting prohibited firearms from licensed owners.

The government is launching a review of the firearm classification system, which, according to their statement, has become increasingly complex since its creation in the 1960s. This review aims to simplify the system, but CSAAA is monitoring this closely.

Additionally, Yellow Flag provisions stemming from Bill C-21 are said to ensure that individuals convicted of violence against a partner or family member will be denied firearms licenses. Existing licenses will be revoked if there is suspicion of domestic violence or stalking. These yellow flag provisions allow concerned individuals (such as family members, friends, or law enforcement) to request a firearm license suspension for someone they believe poses a risk to themselves or others. This is another provision that CSAAA is closely monitoring, as of course there is concern for abuse of this system.

Comments are open until April 7th to consult on the Regulations Amending the Firearms Licences Regulations.