Minister of Public Safety Gary Anandasangaree, left, speaks during a press conference on the federal firearm compensation program in Montreal, Saturday, Jan. 17, 2026, as Quebec Minister of Public Security Ian Lafreniere, centre, and Nathalie Provost, Secretary of State (Nature) look on. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Graham Hughes

By The Canadian Press

Liberals eye next steps in firearm buyback as window for individual owners closes

Apr 1, 2026 | 9:52 AM

OTTAWA — The Liberal government’s firearm buyback program is entering a new phase with passage of the deadline for individual gun owners to declare interest.

Public Safety Minister Gary Anandasangaree said last week that owners had reported more than 52,000 firearms to the government as the March 31 deadline loomed.

That number was well short of the 136,000 firearms for which the Liberal government set aside compensation money when the buyback for individual owners opened in January.

The minister is expected to provide an update on the numbers today.

Since May 2020, Ottawa has outlawed about 2,500 types of firearms, including the AR-15 and Ruger Mini-14, on the basis they belong only on the battlefield.

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The government is expected to soon reopen the buyback program to businesses after more than 12,000 guns were collected in an initial phase.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 1, 2026.

Jim Bronskill, The Canadian Press