Question Period Note: Assault-Style Firearms Compensation Program

In December 2023, the Government of Canada launched a competitive process to procure services for the collection, storage, validation, verification and destruction of firearms in support of a mandatory compensation program of assault-style firearms that were prohibited on May 1, 2020.

Note: All questions related to capability, requirements and costing should be answered by the Minister of Public Safety.

• The Government is committed to ensuring public safety in our communities
  • The primary intent of the Assault-Style Firearms Compensation Program is to safely collect now-prohibited firearms from Canadians and businesses, while offering fair compensation to businesses and lawful owners impacted by the prohibition
  • On December 7, 2023, Public Services and Procurement Canada launched a competitive process to procure services for the collection, storage, verification, validation, transportation, and destruction of firearms
  • The program is now live and businesses are receiving notices providing them all necessary information to participate

If pressed on procurement:

• On September 26, 2024, Public Services and Procurement Canada awarded a contract for up to $4.5 million (before applicable taxes), for one year and a one-year option, for the business component of the program. The name of the company will remain confidential for security reasons
• A draft Request for Proposal for the individuals component of the program was sent directly to four pre-qualified suppliers on November 29, 2024. The names of the companies will remain confidential for security reasons
• A contract is expected to be awarded in late February 2025

On May 1, 2020, the Government of Canada announced a prohibition on more than 1,500 models and variants of assault-style firearms, such as the AR-15. Since then, approximately 500 additional variants of these prohibited firearms have also been prohibited. These firearms can no longer be legally used, imported, or sold in Canada.

The 2021 Speech from the Throne and mandate letter for the Minister of Public Safety reiterated the commitment of the Government of Canada to make it mandatory for owners to dispose of their assault-style firearms, by surrendering them to the Government for the purposes of destruction or having them deactivated at the Government’s expense.

The estimated volume of these firearms held by businesses is within the range of 10,000 to 15,000, and the estimated volume held by individuals is within the range of 125,000 to 175,000.

The competitive process is comprised of two components, one Request for Proposal for the Business Phase, which includes stock from resellers such as sporting goods stores, and one subsequent Request for Proposal for the Individuals Phase, which will cover prohibited firearms owned by individuals.

On July 5, 2024, the Request for Proposal for the Business Phase was sent to the Qualified Suppliers. The contract for the Business Phase was awarded on September 26, 2024. The Request for Proposal for the Individuals Phase should be released to the Qualified Suppliers in December 2024.

On December 5, 2024, the government announced the addition of 324 unique makes and models to the list of prohibited firearms.

The Program is now live and all “Businesses” have received a notice on December 6, 2024, providing them all necessary information to participate.

As of December 10, 2024, 35 firearms have been collected and destroyed. 68 parts and components have been collected and 5 destroyed. These firearms, parts and components were collected from the 4 businesses participating to the pilot. A total of 9 claims have been submitted on Case Management System.

The government will collaborate with the “Businesses” to determine how some of the prohibited firearms could be donated to Ukraine.

As of May 1, 2020, an Amnesty Order has been in place to protect lawful owners of the now-prohibited firearms. The amnesty period will expire on October 30, 2025