Canada’s gun buy program is a complete bust: Federal government confirms 25 guns collected from 16 participants in ‘buyback’ [confiscation] pilot

The Canadian Taxpayers Federation reports the federal government “agreed to give at least $149,760” to the Cape Breton Regional Municipality to carry out the confiscation. In addition, $26,535 was paid to the 16 individuals whose guns were purchased. Those costs total $176,295. The publicly available reporting does not provide a full, audited total that adds up all federal staff time, travel, contracting, overhead, IT/portal work, communications, etc., attributable specifically to the 2025 pilot (as distinct from the broader national program).

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The total costs of the Canadian gun confiscation program beyond the pilot program could be substantial.

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The [Canadian] Parliamentary Budget Officer said it will cost up to $756 million to compensate owners for their firearms. Other experts put the final price tag at about $6 billion.

Gage Haubrich, “Failed pilot project shows gun confiscation must be scrapped,” Canadian Taxpayers Federation, January 8, 2026.

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The Canadian National Post describes the failure of the pilot program. There is no information on whether the guns that were turned in were operational.

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With time ticking down until the Liberals launch their long-awaited “buyback” program for government-banned firearms, the federal government has confirmed that only 25 guns were turned over as part of a test run. 

Late Wednesday, Public Safety Canada announced the results of a six-week pilot program that ran in parts of Cape Breton last fall, which was designed to test the system before it rolled out nationally. . . .

In a statement outlining the “lessons learned” from the pilot, the Public Safety department identified how a clearer registration process would help boost participation and that a “significantly longer declaration period” would be in place when the national program launches, as compared to the several weeks gun owners were given during the test period.

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It also identified “gaps” in the portal gun owners used to register, which it says may have created confusion.

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“The pilot demonstrated that clearer and more timely instructions are required to facilitate participation,” the statement read. . . .

Stephanie Taylor, “Federal government confirms 25 guns collected in ‘buyback’ pilot, as Quebec pledges support,” National Post (Canada), January 7, 2025.