Gun buyback: Here's how much the feds are proposing to pay for banned firearms

Canada Post refusing to take guns Polytechnique survivor Heidi Rathjen on Canada Post's refusal to send back guns in a buyback program.

The federal government has unveiled how much they are planning to pay gun owners for the banned firearms they turn over as part of the mandatory buyback program.

On Thursday, Public Safety Canada released a full price list outlining how much compensation individual owners can expect to receive under the program. The buyback offer applies to the more than 1,500 models and variants of "assault-style" weapons the government banned the sale and use of on May 1, 2020.

"It will be mandatory for individuals to participate in the buyback program, have their assault-style firearms rendered inoperable at the government’s expense, or otherwise lawfully disposed," said Public Safety Canada in a statement.

Here's the proposed compensation amount for the 11 categories of prohibited firearms:

The price list is based on what Canadians may have paid to purchase these guns prior to the policy change Prime Minister Justin Trudeau campaigned on in 2019, and went on to announce in the wake of the Nova Scotia mass shooting in 2020.

Between now and Aug. 28, the federal government is seeking input from firearms owners, businesses and the gun industry on the proposed compensation amounts, with Public Safety Minister Marco Mendicino saying the aim is to get firearms out of Canadian communities while fairly compensating current owners. The government has published a survey online for those interested to fill out.

Once the consultation period ends, the government says known firearm owners will be contacted about participating in the program. The Liberals have already implemented an amnesty period until Oct. 20, 2023 allowing lawful owners of these prohibited firearms to be protected from criminal liability while they take the steps required to comply.