Federal firearms program won't see involvement from OPP, as stated by the minister
The federal government's gun buyback program, a key election promise, is facing hurdles as provinces express reservations and key police forces remain silent on their participation.
In a recent statement, Public Safety Minister Gary Anandasangaree confirmed that the program is in the "final stages of design" and is expected to be completed by the end of 2026. However, the minister did not provide any new information about the amnesty deadline or potential changes to the program.
The Saskatchewan government has added roadblocks to the implementation of the program, while Alberta Premier Danielle Smith has declared that she will not allow police to take banned guns away from their owners. The Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) has also refused to participate in the program, which may cause issues for Ottawa's plans to buy back thousands of weapons that have been banned since 2020.
The federal government is looking to leverage third-party service providers of the RCMP to administer this federal program. Ontario residents will have the opportunity to surrender prohibited firearms at local police stations or register them on the federal portal. However, a spokesperson for Solicitor General Michael Kerzner stated that Ontario police services do not have the resources to attend residential addresses to confiscate previously lawful but now prohibited firearms from lawful gun owners.
The Doug Ford government has previously indicated that the program is not a priority and does not want provincial funding to pay for it. The Barrie police have no current plans to participate in the gun buyback program and have had no conversations about doing so. The Hamilton police have stated that no structured framework or direction has been provided and no talks have been held since 2023. Toronto police did not respond when asked if they are in any discussions about the gun buyback program.
Anandasangaree has promised that more information about the program will be forthcoming. The renewed questions about the feasibility of the gun buyback program come weeks before it is set to begin. Advocates have expressed concerns about the future of the program, which has been a central part of several Liberal party election platforms.
The federal government will have to reach agreements with municipal police forces such as Toronto Police, Peel Police, and others, while finding a solution for areas without a local police force. Carney conceded that the gun buyback program will have "different processes in different provinces."
As the program moves closer to implementation, it remains to be seen how these challenges will be addressed and whether the gun buyback program will proceed as planned.
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