On Thursday, Public Safety Canada released a full price list outlining how much compensation individual owners can expect to receive under the program. The buyback offer applies to the more than 1,500 models and variants of “assault” weapons that the government banned from sale and use on May 1, 2020. “It will be mandatory for individuals to participate in the buyback program, dispose of assault-type firearms at government expense, or legally dispose of them,” Public Safety Canada said in a statement. Here is the proposed compensation amount for the 11 categories of prohibited firearms:
AR platform firearms such as the M16, AR-10 and AR-15 rifles and the M4 carbine: $1,337 Beretta Cx4 Storm: $1,317 CZ Scorpion EVO 3 Carbine and CZ Scorpion EVO 3 Pistol: $1,291 M14 rifle: $2,612 Robinson Armament XCR Rifle: $2,735 Ruger Mini-14 rifle: $1,407 SG-550 rifle and SG-551 carbine: $6,209 SIG Sauer MCX, MPX forearms like the SIG Sauer SIG MPX carbine and the SIG Sauer SIG MPX pistol: $2,369 Vz58 Rifle: $1,139 Firearms with a bore diameter of 20 mm or greater – except one designed solely for the purpose of defusing explosive devices: $2,684 Firearms capable of firing a projectile with a muzzle energy greater than 10,000 joules: $2,819
The price list is based on what Canadians might have paid to buy those guns before the policy change that Prime Minister Justin Trudeau campaigned on in 2019 and continued to announce after the 2020 mass shooting in Nova Scotia.
Between now and August 28, the federal government is seeking input from gun owners, businesses and the gun industry on proposed compensation amounts, with Public Safety Minister Marco Mendicino saying the goal is to get firearms out of Canadian communities, while compensating current owners fairly. The government has published a survey online for those interested to complete. Once the consultation period ends, the government says it will contact known firearms owners about taking part in the scheme. The Liberals have already implemented an amnesty period until October 20, 2023 that allows legal owners of these prohibited firearms to be protected from criminal liability while they take the necessary steps to comply.
