Ottawa gets gun ‘buy-back’ program in motion

A buy-back program for guns is starting.

Ottawa says a six-week pilot project is about to begin in Cape Breton, Nova Scotia.

It’s voluntary, and will test an online system, along with collection of 200 firearms.

The compensation program will then open to all eligible firearms owners with a nation-wide declaration period later in fall 2025, followed by a collection and compensation period in 2026.

Public Safety Minister Gary Anandasangaree refers to what he calls assault-style guns, are weapons that don’t belong in communities.

“It has the power to penetrate body armour. A version of this weapon was associated with the deadliest mass-shooting in Canadian history, in Portapique, Nova Scotia in April, 2020,” said Anandasangaree.

The Cape Breton Regional Police Service says this gives an opportunity for owners to surrender guns they can’t legally have.

Chief Robert Walsh says these types of guns are a significant risk to public safety.

“Police see first-hand the devastating impacts of gun violence, and we know the importance of removing these dangerous firearms from our communities,” said Walsh.

The federal government banned over 1,500 models of assault-style firearms in 2020

Eligible owners will receive information by mail or email.