The Government of Canada continues to move forward with a comprehensive approach to strengthen community safety and address firearms violence and crime.
The Assault-Style Firearms Compensation Program (ASFCP) was developed to provide an option for eligible businesses and individuals who own firearms prohibited in 2020, 2024, and 2025 to comply with the law and receive compensation.
To date, over 142,000 assault-style firearms have been declared, collected, or destroyed under the Assault-Style Firearms Compensation Program:
- On June 4, 2026, the second phase of the ASFCP for businesses closed, with more than 61,900 assault-style firearms claimed.
- Over 12,000 firearms collected and destroyed, with compensation issued during the first phase of the business program between November 2024 and April 2025.
- Over 68,000 firearms declared in the individual phase of the ASFCP from January 19 to March 31, 2026.
The collection and compensation processes for individual firearm owners and businesses are well underway in various areas across the country, and will continue through early fall 2026. Final total numbers of firearms collected and compensation amounts will be available after the program is completed. All individuals and businesses who declared firearms under the ASFCP will receive compensation upon successful validation of their firearms.
Amnesty Orders Extension
Amnesty Orders for the 2020, 2024, and 2025 prohibitions are in place to protect businesses and individual owners from criminal liability while they take steps to comply with the law, such as participating in the compensation program or disposing of their prohibited firearms without compensation.
In March 2026, the Supreme Court of Canada agreed to hear an appeal challenging the May 2020 prohibition of assault-style firearms. In light of this, the Amnesty Orders have been extended and set to expire 90 days following the date the Supreme Court of Canada renders its decision, which is expected next year. By extending the amnesty period, the Government is providing certainty to individual owners and businesses that they will continue to be protected from criminal liability while the Supreme Court hears the appeal and renders its decision.
The Government of Canada is confident in the decision to prohibit assault-style firearms due to the risk they pose to public safety. The new expiry date for the Amnesty Orders does not impact the ASFCP, which is expected to be completed by October 2026. The program remains the only opportunity for firearm owners to receive compensation for their prohibited firearms.
