Public Safety Minister Gary Anandasangaree has announced plans to expand the federal government’s gun buyback program nationwide following a pilot initiative in Nova Scotia that reported a low participation rate. Anandasangaree emphasized the importance of rolling out the program across Canada during a recent statement.
The pilot program in Cape Breton, N.S., aimed to test various program components and collect around 200 assault-style firearms. While official figures are not yet released, Coun. Glenn Paruch, chair of the Cape Breton Regional Municipality’s police commission, indicated that up to 22 prohibited firearms were returned to police.
The pilot, which ran for six weeks from October 1, fell short of Ottawa’s collection target. The results will be used to refine the program before its national implementation. Anandasangaree viewed the pilot as a learning opportunity to address initial technical challenges and confirmed that the systems are now operational.
While Paruch did not label the pilot a success, he remains optimistic. He mentioned that even if only 22 firearms were returned in Cape Breton, scaling this up nationally could yield significant results in firearm retrievals.
Cape Breton Regional Police Chief Robert Walsh declined to comment on the pilot’s results, respecting the federal government’s jurisdiction over the project. Notably, the pilot faced opposition, with over 100 individuals protesting the program outside the police headquarters, arguing against the ban and buyback initiative.
Anandasangaree faced criticism previously for remarks made in an audio recording regarding enforcement challenges and political motivations behind the buyback program. He later clarified his statements, acknowledging their misguided nature and reaffirming the ability of police forces to carry out their duties effectively.