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By CKOM News Staff

buyback program

Sask. justice minister calls Ottawa’s buyback program a ‘flawed gun grab’

Jan 20, 2026 | 12:02 PM

Saskatchewan’s justice minister isn’t holding back his criticisms of the federal government’s gun buyback program.

The program, which launched on Monday, aims to provide compensation to the owners of some 2,500 types of guns that have been banned in Canada since May 2020, in exchange for the owners turning in or deactivating the firearms. Ottawa said compensation will be determined on a first-come, first-served basis and gave owners until March 31 to “express interest” in the buyback scheme.

According to the Government of Saskatchewan, many of the banned guns are hunting rifles and collectors’ items, and noted that amendments to provincial firearms legislation will be tabled this spring in order to help ensure that gun owners receive fair compensation “for their legally-obtained property that is now prohibited,” and to protect the rights of law-abiding gun owners in the province.

“The amendments propose that lawful firearms owners must be fairly compensated by the federal government or their agents, in an amount determined to be appropriate by the Saskatchewan Firearms Commissioner, if they own firearms that are seized or deemed to be seized as a result of the federal legislation or bans,” the justice ministry noted.

Tim McLeod, Saskatchewan’s justice minister, was frank in his criticisms of the federal buyback efforts.

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“It is very disappointing that the federal government is continuing to proceed with their completely flawed gun grab program that does nothing to make communities safer,” McLeod said in a statement.

“This program will not remove the street weapons that are being used by criminals.”

McLeod said the entire buyback program is aimed at gun owners who obtained firearms legally and follow the law, and he noted that there are serious concerns about the level of compensation that will be provided by Ottawa.

“This is completely unacceptable,” McLeod added.

“This program will not remove the street weapons that are being used by criminals,” said Tim McLeod, Saskatchewan’s justice minister.

“We will continue to look at all options to protect law-abiding firearms owners, while taking meaningful measures that will actually improve community safety.”

Robert Freberg, commissioner of the Saskatchewan Firearms Office, noted that nothing in provincial laws prevents any gun owners from participating in the federal plan if they so desire, but said he understands how many gun owners are feeling.

“We share the frustrations of law-abiding firearms owners that they are being unfairly treated and being threatened with criminal liability if they do not declare firearms for which they are unlikely to receive appropriate compensation,” Freberg said in a statement.

“Saskatchewan’s approach in this matter has always been around ensuring that individuals receive fair compensation for their property, and the federal government’s suggestion that we are somehow attempting to prevent our citizens from being paid fairly is as ridiculous as their buyback program.”

The justice ministry said it plans to soon launch an online portal to provide an avenue for gun owners to have firearms, ammunition and accessories that are impacted by the federal legislation appraised, and said further details “will be announced soon.”

– with files from The Canadian Press