Manitoba won’t administer gun buyback program

The Manitoba government is not enforcing Ottawa’s federal gun buyback program when it takes effect. CTV’s Harrison Shin explains.

Manitoba’s justice minister is pushing back against the federal government’s gun buyback program.

A letter circulating on social media written by Justice Minister Matt Wiebe on Jan. 14 said the province has expressed concerns about the cost and administrative burden of the Federal Assault-Style Firearms Compensation Program (ASFCP), saying the money could better be used for frontline policing resources.

“Legal ownership of firearms in Canada falls under federal jurisdiction and Manitoba will not administer the federal government’s ASFCP,” Wiebe writes.

The letter also noted Premier Wab Kinew is a gun owner and “understands the many legal, legitimate uses of firearms.”

“Our government will always respect law-abiding firearm owners.”

A spokesperson for the province confirmed the legitimacy of the letter.

“Concerned Manitobans contacted the Minister’s office about the topic. This letter was sent in response,” the spokesperson said in a statement.

Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew confirmed that the province would not be participating in the program during a news scrum on Friday.

“We just think there’s a lot of headaches here that are not going to make our community safer,” Kinew said.

“If we’re looking at taking away weapons from criminals, from people who are causing violence in our streets, I’m all for that,” he said. “But this program doesn’t look like it’s going to achieve that end. Instead, it’s going to create other issues around administration and cost.”

Last fall, the federal government collected 25 banned guns during a six-week trial run of the program in Nova Scotia.

Ottawa has budgeted more than $700 million for the buyback program for firearms outlawed since May 2020, including the AR-15, arguing they only belong on the battlefield.

Quebec has stated it intends to support the program when it is fully rolled out.

Information from Ottawa shows that the Winnipeg Police Service entered an agreement with the federal government to help administer the program.

-With files from The Canadian Press