Owners of banned firearms will have until the end of March to declare interest in a federal program offering compensation for turning in or permanently deactivating their guns.
The federal government says the declaration period for individuals will begin Monday and run through March 31.
Since May 2020, Ottawa has outlawed about 2,500 types of guns, including the AR-15, on the basis they belong only on the battlefield.
The government says compensation will be determined primarily on a first-come, first-served basis.
In the spring, owners whose declarations are approved will be invited to finalize their claims and schedule appointments to turn in their guns to the RCMP, local police or a mobile collection unit.
Prohibited firearms and devices must be disposed of — or permanently deactivated — by the end of an amnesty period on Oct. 30.
The government says anyone in possession of a banned firearm or device after the amnesty period will be breaking the law and could face criminal prosecution.
Federal officials said at a technical briefing that almost $250 million has been earmarked to compensate people who take part in the program by turning in their firearms or having them deactivated by a certified gunsmith.
The government anticipates the money will cover compensation for about 136,000 firearms.
During an initial phase of the program, more than 12,000 firearms were collected from businesses, with approximately $22 million in compensation paid out.
The federal government has budgeted more than $742 million for the overall cost of the program, dating from 2020.
Some police associations have raised concerns that the move will do little to reduce crime while draining resources from fighting it.
The Canadian Coalition for Firearm Rights on Saturday called the program “ineffective and divisive.”
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