The federal government is moving forward with the implementation of its voluntary Assault-Style Firearms Compensation Program (ASFCP) for individual firearms owners, beginning with a six-week pilot in Cape Breton, Nova Scotia, starting today.
The pilot, conducted in partnership with the Cape Breton Regional Police, aims to test program systems, including an online portal, collection and destruction processes, and compensation payments for participants. Officials plan to collect an initial 200 prohibited firearms during the trial period, which will inform the program’s rollout across Canada later this fall.
Eligible firearm owners nationwide will receive information by mail or email on how to participate, declare prohibited firearms, and apply for compensation. Only those who declare their firearms will be eligible for collection and payment. Individuals who do not participate must dispose of prohibited firearms through export, deactivation, or surrender to police without compensation to remain compliant with the law.
The program for individual owners follows an earlier successful ASFCP for businesses, which collected more than 12,000 prohibited firearms. The business program is reopening to accept claims for firearms prohibited in December 2024, March 2025, and May 2020.
Public Safety Minister Gary Anandasangaree said the program is part of Canada’s broader effort to remove assault-style firearms from the streets. “These assault-style firearms are largely designed to kill people, not for hunting or sport shooting and have no place in Canada,” he said.
The prohibited firearms list now includes over 2,500 makes and models, which can only be legally transferred or transported under limited circumstances. Amnesty orders are in place to protect owners from criminal liability while they comply with the law, with an extension under review to provide sufficient time.
The nationwide collection and compensation period will begin in early 2026, with participants receiving payment by cheque or direct deposit after firearms verification.
The ASFCP aligns with recommendations from the 2023 Mass Casualty Commission Final Report and continues the government’s commitment to public safety and reducing firearms-related violence.
Quick Facts:
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May 1, 2020: over 1,500 assault-style firearms prohibited.
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December 5, 2024: 324 additional makes/models prohibited.
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March 2025: 179 more makes/models prohibited.
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Over 12,000 prohibited firearms collected under the ASFCP for businesses.