The nation-wide declaration period of the Assault-Style Firearms Compensation Program (ASFCP) for individuals ended on March 31, 2026. To date, more than 67,000 assault-style firearms have been declared by 37,869 firearm owners across Canada.
As of yesterday, firearms owners with prohibited firearms no longer have the option to come forward to seek compensation through the ASFCP. The program will continue to complete declarations for:
- Firearm owners who have opened a case with the ASFCP contact centre prior to the end of the declaration period (e.g. due to a technical issue or to request non digital support).
- Canadian Armed Forces members and law enforcement officers deployed outside the country.
Beginning in April, the program will assess declarations submitted by firearms owners. The program will communicate directly with participants through the ASFCP online portal, or by phone or mail if they filled out a paper declaration, to give instructions on how to finalize their claims, permanently deactivate, or make an appointment to turn in their firearms for compensation. Following the assessment period, collection and compensation processes are expected to run from spring through early fall 2026 in various parts of the country. Collection will be undertaken by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, local police or secured mobile collection units. Details will be provided to individual owners for their specific area.
Participation in the compensation program is voluntary, but compliance with the law is not. Individuals who did not declare their prohibited firearms during the declaration period must dispose of or permanently deactivate them before the amnesty period ends on October 30, 2026. Owners in possession of a prohibited firearm or device following this date will be non-compliant with legislation and could face the loss of their Possession and Acquisition Licence (PAL), as well as criminal liability.
The Government of Canada remains committed to combatting firearms-related crime and violence including with the ASFCP, which will help remove dangerous, assault-style firearms from Canadian communities.
