Canada’s Liberal government is once again proving just how out of touch it is with reality—and with law-abiding gun owners—by doubling down on its chaotic and costly “assault-style firearms” confiscation program. Years after Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced his sweeping 2020 gun ban, Ottawa is still scrambling to figure out how to actually enforce it. And the latest “solution”? Pay local police departments to do the federal government’s dirty work—while Canada’s violent crime problem spirals out of control.
A Patchwork Plan That Keeps Falling Apart
First, there was the doomed idea to get private contractors to collect firearms. That went nowhere. Then came a half-baked proposal to use Canada Post to mail confiscated guns to the government—until the head of Canada Post flat-out said no, citing serious safety concerns. Next up? A vague suggestion that retired police officers could step in to seize firearms. But with no real authority and little public support, that too fizzled out.
Now, according to TheGunBlog.ca, the federal government is handing out taxpayer dollars to municipal police departments to carry out the seizures. In Winnipeg, Public Safety Canada inked a CAD$2.8 million deal with the city’s police department. Cape Breton’s police service got just over CAD$100,000 for the same job. What exactly are these officers being paid to do? Administer and enforce the federal government’s Assault-Style Firearms Compensation Program—aka, confiscate legally owned guns from responsible citizens.
But don’t expect the government to be upfront about how this is all supposed to work. The official buyback program page hasn’t been updated since 2023, even though enforcement on individual citizens—”Phase 2″—was supposedly already underway. With the federal amnesty set to expire October 30, 2025, no one has a clue what happens next.
Canadians Are Safer Without This Program
The timing couldn’t be worse. Winnipeg, one of the cities now tasked with executing this federal gun grab, is grappling with a violent crime wave that shows no sign of slowing down. According to a presentation by the Winnipeg Police Service, violent crime is up 31% compared to last year. Calls to police are surging. And the number of officers patrolling the streets has dropped below 2013 levels.
Winnipeg already has the highest violent crime rates of any major city in Canada. It’s been the national leader in homicides, robberies, and aggravated assaults for years. And now its officers are being asked to put violent crime on the back burner so they can knock on the doors of vetted, licensed firearms owners?
It’s not just inefficient—it’s dangerous.
The Real Victims? Responsible Gun Owners and Canadian Taxpayers
Gun owners in Canada aren’t criminals. They’ve followed the rules, gone through background checks, and complied with registration laws. And now, they’re being treated like public threats, while real criminals run rampant in the streets.
Even worse, this entire mess is costing Canadian taxpayers millions—likely billions—just like the failed long-gun registry before it. The Winnipeg Police Service’s annual budget alone is CAD$339 million. A CAD$2.8 million top-up to confiscate legally owned property barely moves the needle, especially when violent criminals are overwhelming the system.
And let’s not forget: many provinces and First Nations communities have already told Ottawa they won’t participate in this federal gun grab. In fact, several provincial leaders have publicly said their RCMP resources should be focused on fighting real crime—not confiscating lawfully owned firearms.
Time to End the Gun Confiscation Fantasy
It’s clear this isn’t about public safety—it’s about politics. Trudeau’s government has poured years and taxpayer dollars into this scheme without a workable plan. And now it’s trying to save face by paying city police to do a job that most Canadians never asked for and don’t support.
If the federal government really wants to make communities safer, it should stop wasting time and money targeting responsible citizens and start cracking down on the actual criminals fueling Canada’s rising violent crime rates.
There’s still time to shut this program down. Canadians deserve a government that prioritizes public safety—not one that treats law-abiding citizens like criminals.
