Public Safety Canada confirmed that the so-called "buyback" for semi-automatic centrefire rifles that were banned through Orders-in-Council will start later this year.
The government banned more than 1,500 models of semi-automatic rifles in 2020 following a mass shooting in Nova Scotia. Most were of designs or appearances that it considered “assault-style.” Since then, more models have been added, including .22 rimfires.
The government’s main estimates, which were released in late May, allow for $342 million for the “Assault Style Firearms Compensation Program.” Of that, $260 million is allocated for grants for individuals, $8.1 million for grants with no description, and $75.4 million under “contributions.”
“The $260 million is the estimated amount of funding required to compensate individuals for participating in the program," Max Watson of Public Safety media relations explained. “The $75 million listed under contributions is to support agreements with provinces and municipalities in the collection of assault style firearms from individual firearm owners.”
Individuals who own the banned guns, and have held a valid firearms licence on May 1, 2020 and have maintained the licence in good standing, will be eligible to participate. Some 12,195 firearms were claimed under the compensation program as of April 20, 2025, the deadline for business compensation claims.
Originally published in the Ontario Out of Doors 2025-2026 Hunting Annual
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