The Government of Canada is moving forward with the implementation of the voluntary Assault-Style Firearms Compensation Program (ASFCP) for individual firearms owners, starting with a pilot in Nova Scotia that begins today. The compensation program will then open to all eligible firearms owners with a nation-wide declaration period later in fall 2025, followed by a collection and compensation period in 2026.
Small-scale pilot
Starting today, a small-scale pilot for individual firearms owners will begin in Cape Breton, Nova Scotia, and is expected to run for approximately six weeks to test program elements while collecting an initial 200 assault-style firearms. Participation in the pilot is voluntary and will be conducted in collaboration with the Cape Breton Regional Police. It will test the online portal, the collection and destruction process, as well as the system for issuing compensation payments to participants. Support from a dedicated contact centre will be provided to all participants. The pilot will allow us to identify any gaps or challenges in the system and ensure the program is operating smoothly before being opened nation-wide.
Nation-wide declaration period
Following the pilot, eligible firearm owners across Canada will be contacted by mail or email to provide them with the information needed to take part in the program and declare their prohibited firearms. Only those who declare their affected firearms may be considered for the collection process and seek compensation. While the program is voluntary, those who do not participate in it will not be able to seek compensation and will have to dispose of their prohibited firearms by exporting, deactivating or turning them into police without compensation to be compliant with the law before the end of the amnesty period.
Collection and compensation period
In early 2026, firearms owners whose declarations have been approved will then finalize their claims and book collection appointments with local police of jurisdiction to turn in those firearms. Following the validation and verification of the firearms, they will receive payment by cheque or direct deposit within weeks.
Program reopening for businesses
Earlier in 2025, the ASFCP for businesses ran successfully, collecting more than 12,000 prohibited firearms from across Canada. It will reopen for businesses in the coming weeks to receive claims for firearms prohibited in December 2024 and March 2025, and to continue accepting claims for those prohibited in May 2020.
Complying with the law
Now totalling over 2,500 makes and models, these prohibited assault-style firearms can no longer be legally possessed, sold in, or imported into Canada and can only be transferred or transported under limited circumstances. The compensation program is an option for individual firearm owners and businesses to seek compensation and dispose of their prohibited firearms before the end of the amnesty period.
Amnesty Orders are in place to protect affected owners and businesses from criminal liability while they take steps to come into compliance with the law. To ensure that firearm owners and businesses have enough time to dispose of these firearms and comply with the law, the Government of Canada is assessing the appropriate time required to extend the current amnesty order. All affected firearm owners or businesses will have to comply with the law by the end of the amnesty period, to avoid criminal liability for the illegal possession of a prohibited firearm.
