How Canada’s Largest Gun Control Effort in Decades Is Missing the Mark

Heidi Rathjen, a long-time advocate for stricter gun laws, has been pushing for an assault-style rifle ban since 1989. That year, a shooter targeted her classmates at Montreal’s École Polytechnique, killing 14 women and injuring over a dozen. The event shifted Canada’s perspective on gun violence, prompting a broader movement for reform. Two decades later, after a deadly mass shooting in 2020, the federal government introduced a ban on 2,500 models of such weapons. However, the subsequent buy-back program has faced challenges, raising questions about its effectiveness.

The initiative aims to compensate legal gun owners for surrendering their weapons, mirroring Australia and New Zealand’s approaches. Over C$215 million has been allocated for the effort, yet many feel it falls short. Gun control advocates like Rathjen argue that the ban isn’t broad enough to truly address the issue. “Without a comprehensive ban on assault weapons, there is no ban… and the money will be wasted,” she stated, representing PolySeSouvient, a gun safety group.

Even the government’s own public safety minister, Gary Anandasangaree, admitted to criticizing the program. A leaked conversation revealed him questioning its value, given that most gun crimes in Canada involve illegal firearms. Though he later called his remarks “misguided,” the debate continues. Critics claim the program lacks coordination with other measures, such as mental health reforms or illegal gun tracking, which were also introduced after the 2020 Nova Scotia shooting.

Provincial Resistance

Alberta and Saskatchewan, two Western provinces, have opted out of the buy-back program. Alberta plans to exempt the measure, while Saskatchewan will protect gun owners from criminal liability until it secures a fair compensation guarantee. Blaine Beaven, the province’s new firearms commissioner, defended the decision, calling the ban an “ideological mandate” with little impact on public safety. “It has limited to no discernible benefit,” he said.

Meanwhile, Frank Nardi, a Montreal gun shop owner, expressed concerns that the law unfairly penalizes lawful users. He suggested that mental health system failures might be a bigger factor in mass shootings than the type of firearm. “Let’s concentrate on that before imposing these regulations,” he told the BBC. Nardi noted that many gun owners are confused about which weapons are affected, blaming unclear communication from the federal government. He pointed out inconsistencies, such as two similarly designed rifles—one banned, one not.

Several Canadian police forces have also raised objections, citing the program’s operational challenges. They argue it may divert resources from targeting illegal gun smuggling, a key priority. Despite the effort, the plan risks becoming a symbol of incomplete reform, leaving gaps in the country’s approach to firearm-related violence.