The Trudeau government has granted Canada Post the ability to transport and store prohibited firearms with the aim to have the Crown corporation assist the Liberals in their gun buyback program.
According to an Order in Council dated Oct. 16, Canada Post will be permitted to remove prohibited assault-style firearms from safes at firearms retailers for their transportation and ultimately their disposal.
Under Ottawa’s so-called buyback program, over 1,500 models of firearms were banned by Order in Council, with the government initially granting amnesty to gun owners until May 1, 2022, a date which has since been extended to October 2025.
The mass ban resulted in weapons retailers being left on the hook with excess inventory and having to store the firearms securely until collection.
However, the program has already cost the federal government $42 million without any confiscations and certain estimates projecting the total cost of the program will surpass $1 billion.
“Once the program launches, the updated shipping regulations will make the affected firearms and devices mailable matter and will temporarily permit businesses taking part in the program to ship firearms or devices via post,” said a spokesperson for Public Safety Minister Dominic LeBlanc, in a statement on Friday.
While LeBlanc had initially said that collection would begin this fall, the individual buyback program for people who own prohibited weapons won’t start until next year.
Canada Post said it is prepared to take part in the first phase of the buyback program involving weapons retailers in a recent statement.
However, the Crown corporation maintains that it will not be participating in phase two of the program, which involves individual gun owners.
Canada Post cited worries about potential conflicts between staff and gun owners who are frustrated with the confiscation of something they purchased and owned legally.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau promised the implementation of a buyback program in both the 2019 and 2021 elections. The deadline has been extended twice.
The Liberals now hope to finalize the program before the next general election, scheduled for October 2025.
Federal officials said that Canada Post would be the “least costly” and “most efficient” avenue to recover banned weapons.