Alberta won’t participate in Ottawa’s firearm buyback program. What does that mean for local gun owners?

Alberta won’t participate in Ottawa’s firearm buyback program. What does that mean for local gun owners?

January 21, 2026 discoverhiddenusacom News

The federal government’s national gun buyback program is encountering significant resistance in Alberta, where the provincial government has declared it will not enforce or participate in the initiative. This development adds to existing hurdles facing the program, as other provinces also express opposition.

Alberta’s Refusal to Participate

Around 2,500 “assault-style” firearm models were banned in 2020, with the federal government stating these weapons are designed for warfare, not hunting or sport. Participation in the Assault-Style Firearms Compensation Program (ASFCP) is voluntary, and gun owners have until March 31 to declare their interest in receiving compensation for surrendering their prohibited firearms.

However, Alberta passed a legislative motion in December refusing to participate in the compensation program and prohibiting its local law enforcement from involvement. According to Teri Bryant, the province’s chief firearms officer, Alberta will not spend taxpayer dollars on the program and will allow the federal government to enforce it, if they choose, with appropriately licensed agents.

Did You Know? The federal government’s website states appointments for turning in firearms can be scheduled with local police or RCMP, options that are unavailable in Alberta due to the province’s legislation.

Options for Albertan Gun Owners

While the ASFCP is voluntary, owning the prohibited firearms remains illegal in Canada. Gun owners who do not declare their interest by March 31 will be ineligible for federal compensation should they later choose to surrender their weapons. The amnesty period for possessing these banned guns ends on October 30.

Despite Alberta’s non-participation, residents can still submit declarations to the federal program. Alternatively, Albertans can have their firearms decommissioned by a licensed gunsmith approved by the RCMP and holding an Alberta seizure-agent licence.

Concerns About Program Reliability

JR Cox, head of Calgary-based Sterling Arms International, expressed concerns about the federal government’s reliability, citing difficulties receiving full and timely payment during a previous gun buyback program that ran from November 2024 to April 2025. He noted that a “declaration doesn’t mean compensation,” and gun owners are being asked to identify their firearms without a guarantee of payment.

The Calgary Police Service has stated it will not participate in the current buyback program, but gun owners can still surrender their firearms without receiving compensation. More than 450 guns were voluntarily turned in to the Calgary Police Service last year.

Expert Insight: The refusal of multiple provinces to actively participate in the federal buyback program introduces significant logistical and political challenges. The federal government now faces the prospect of directly funding and executing firearm seizures in resisting provinces, potentially escalating tensions and raising questions about the program’s overall effectiveness.

Other Provincial Responses

Alberta joins Saskatchewan, which has also legislated its refusal to participate, and Manitoba, which has stated it will not enforce the program.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the deadline for declaring interest in the buyback program?

Interested gun owners have until March 31 to declare their interest in turning in their outlawed firearms and receiving compensation from the federal government.

What happens if an Albertan gun owner doesn’t declare their firearm?

Anyone who hasn’t submitted a declaration by the March 31 deadline will not be eligible for federal compensation if they turn in their guns, and possessing the banned firearms remains illegal after October 30.

Can Alberta prevent the federal government from enforcing the buyback program?

According to Teri Bryant, the province’s chief firearms officer, Alberta cannot block the federal government from setting up the program, but the federal government must do so and be appropriately licensed.

As the March 31 declaration deadline approaches, and with multiple provinces resisting participation, what impact will this fractured approach have on the long-term success of the federal government’s gun buyback initiative?