The federal government has granted Canada Post the authority to store and transport restricted firearms, a significant step toward implementing the long-awaited retail gun buyback program.
A new order-in-council issued on October 16 permits restricted assault-style firearms to be removed from safes, transported, and ultimately destroyed as part of the program. Over 1,500 models of these firearms were restricted following the tragic 2020 mass shooting in Nova Scotia, which claimed 23 lives. Since then, the Criminal Code amnesty on owning these restricted firearms has been extended twice, with the current amnesty set to expire on October 30, 2025.
Despite Canada Post’s previous stance of not involving employees directly in the buyback process due to safety concerns, the federal government has moved forward with involving the service in the secure handling of these firearms.
Public Safety Minister Dominic LeBlanc has confirmed that the buyback program will roll out in stages, beginning this fall with the purchase and destruction of firearms from retail stores. The next phase, set to launch next year, will invite private firearm owners to participate in the buyback program.