OTTAWA — The Canadian government is initiating a buyback program for assault-style firearms, starting with a pilot project in Nova Scotia. This pilot will take place in select areas of Cape Breton and aims to ensure the program operates effectively before a nationwide rollout.

Eligible firearm owners can access a web portal beginning October 1 to express their interest in participating. The government has banned approximately 2,500 types of firearms since May 2020, stating that these weapons are suited for battle rather than for hunting or sport shooting. The buyback program is designed to offer fair compensation to owners of these outlawed firearms.

Public Safety Minister Gary Anandasangaree announced the pilot program, which will last for six weeks and aims to collect around 200 assault-style firearms. Participation in this pilot is voluntary, according to the government. A dedicated call center and web portal will be available to assist participants.

After the pilot concludes, information will be provided to firearm owners across Canada on how to declare their prohibited firearms. Federal funding will support police services in the collection process, which may involve retired or off-duty officers and other methods.

However, the government clarified that while participation in the pilot is voluntary, the overall confiscation of prohibited firearms will not be. Owners will have several options to comply with the law, including receiving compensation, deactivating, or destroying their firearms. Gun control group PolySeSouvient has expressed concerns, stating that the buyback will be ineffective unless it includes a ban on the semi-automatic SKS rifle, which is not currently banned.