In a recent Leger poll commissioned by the Canadian Taxpayers Federation (CTF), a survey of 1,537 Canadians over the age of 18 showed 55 per cent of respondents believe that introducing tougher measures to stop the illegal smuggling of guns into Canada from the United States is the most effective way to reduce gun crime, while only 26 per cent support banning the sale and ownership of various firearms through a government buyback program.
Gage Haubrich, CTF Prairie Director, emphasized that the poll underscores public sentiment: "The poll shows that Canadians know the real problem is illegal gun smuggling, not firearms owned by licensed Canadian gun owners.
"Planning to spend potentially billions of dollars on a program that Canadians don’t think is effective is a waste of money," Haubrich continued. "Law-enforcement experts are telling Ottawa to focus on smugglers instead of licenced gun owners and this poll shows Canadians agree with that commonsense reality.”
The federal government's gun ban and buyback initiative was announced in 2020, but hasn't yet received a single weapon from individual owners. Instead, the first phase has focused on collecting firearms from businesses. Individual collection is expected to start sometime in 2025.
Critics lambast the program for its escalating costs and limited progress, and gun owners across the country feel unfairly targeted by increasing bans and prohibitions. It has cost 67 million so far. Initially estimated at $200 million, the Parliamentary Budget Officer later projected the buyback could cost up to $756 million, excluding administrative expenses. Recent reports suggest the total cost could approach $2 billion.
Law enforcement organizations have also expressed concerns. The National Police Federation, representing RCMP members, stated that the buyback "diverts extremely important personnel, resources, and funding away from addressing the more immediate and growing threat of criminal use of illegal firearms."
As the debate continues, the federal government maintains its commitment to the buyback program. Prime Minister Mark Carney has pledged to "reinvigorate the implementation" of the initiative.
“Ordinary Canadians and the experts both know this policy isn’t going to make anyone safer, so the government needs to stop wasting money on this scheme,” Haubrich said. “It’s time to listen to Canadians and scrap the gun ban and buyback.”