The Canadian government has taken the first step in implementing its long-awaited gun buyback program by partnering with the Canadian Sporting Arms and Ammunition Association (CSAAA) to compensate retailers who own banned firearms. The Public Safety Minister, Marco Mendicino, announced the collaboration with the national gun owners organization, and hailed it as a significant milestone. The government had earlier banned around 1,500 models of firearms in May 2020, following the deadliest mass shooting in modern Canadian history. The prohibited weapons are considered unsuitable for hunting. In a bid to implement the buyback program, the government will compensate Canadians who own any of the guns on the banned list.
According to Mendicino, there are around 11,000 banned guns in store inventories, and the association hired to assist in the buyback program will work with businesses and firearms stores. However, the CSAAA has clarified that it is not part of the actual buyback program but will negotiate fair compensation and a simple process for firearms retailers. The group’s statements on Twitter indicate that there isn’t clear money to fund the buyback program nor a clear process to implement it, raising doubts about its effectiveness.
The buyback program’s second phase will likely extend to individual firearms owners, who have amnesty under an order expiring in October. Mendicino said the Liberal government would be transparent about the program’s cost and expects to begin it later this year. The minister acknowledged the difficulty in debating good smart gun policy and the toxicity surrounding the issue. He assured that the government would work tirelessly to coordinate with its partners and get assault-style firearms, designed for the battlefield, out of Canadian communities. The program’s success depends on the government’s ability to navigate complex logistics and clear doubts surrounding its funding and implementation.