Canada’s government is spending more than CAD $25,000 for each firearm confiscated from noncriminal owners under its national gun buyback program, according to a March 20 report. The program, known as the Assault-Style Firearms Compensation Program, is set to close its declaration period on March 31. After this date, only those who have declared their prohibited firearms will be eligible for collection and possible compensation, though payments are not guaranteed and depend on available funds.
The issue of how public money is being spent has become a central concern as costs have far exceeded initial estimates. According to Daniel Fritter of Calibre magazine, the total amount spent on the program has reached CAD $779.8 million—more than three times the original estimate of CAD $250 million. Fritter said that “the current known, documented cost to the taxpayer” per gun surrendered or confiscated is about CAD $25,000. He added that actual costs may be higher because expenses from partner agencies are not included in this figure.
Despite these expenditures, participation among Canadian gun owners remains low. Fritter stated that “somewhere between just 1.6% and 6% of newly prohibited firearms in circulation have been declared.” Some police services and provinces have also declined involvement due to resource concerns; for example, the Ottawa Police Service said it could not take on additional responsibilities without affecting core priorities.
The high administrative costs stand in contrast with compensation paid out to individuals—reportedly around CAD $700 per gun during the initial rollout—and with other public safety spending. A reporter from Canada’s National Post noted that current program costs exceed annual budgets for major city police departments such as Vancouver and Montreal.
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Observers note that six years into implementation, Canada’s buyback program faces significant challenges related to cost-effectiveness and participation rates.
