Based on coverage from The Star and Lethbridge News Now.
People opposed to Ottawa’s firearms ban and compensation plan are heading to Quebec City this Saturday, aiming their message at both the federal government and Quebec’s role in how the buyback rolls out.
The rally outside the National Assembly comes about six weeks after gun owners were able to start declaring interest in a federal program that offers compensation to turn in or permanently deactivate firearms the government says are meant for the battlefield, not civilian life. The timing is also drawing heat because it lands just weeks after a mass shooting in Tumbler Ridge, B.C., that killed nine people.
Quebec City rally targets federal gun ban
The event is being promoted by gun rights groups including the National Firearms Association (NFA) and supporters of the Canadian Coalition for Firearm Rights (CCFR). Organizers argue the federal government is unfairly singling out licensed, law-abiding gun owners.
The NFA’s online messaging frames Quebec as the key battleground for what happens next, saying participation in the province will shape the program nationally. One ad for the event reads, “If Quebec says no, it ends here,” while another poster uses the French slogan “Our arms are not for sale.”
Online posts suggest participants will travel by bus from about two dozen Quebec communities. A gun rights advocate also set up a GoFundMe aiming to raise $11,000 for the rally. Promotions mention a festive atmosphere, including flags, music, and food trucks.
Ottawa’s 2020 firearms ban and deadlines
The Liberal government has prohibited about 2,500 types of firearms since May 2020, including the AR-15 and the Ruger Mini-14.
Under the current rules, prohibited firearms and devices must be disposed of or deactivated by the end of the amnesty period on Oct. 30. Gun owners have until the end of March to declare interest in the compensation program.
Public Safety Minister Gary Anandasangaree has described the policy as targeting “firearms designed for war, for killing people,” adding they “have no place in our communities.” Federal officials also say roughly 19,000 firearm makes and models remain legal for hunting and sport shooting.
Buyback compensation details and early numbers
Ottawa has earmarked almost $250 million for compensation and says it expects that to cover about 136,000 firearms.
The federal government says that as of last Friday, gun owners had reported more than 32,000 prohibited firearms through the program. The breakdown provided was 13,219 from Ontario, 7,368 from British Columbia, 5,539 from Quebec, and 2,730 from Alberta. Simon Lafortune, a spokesman for Anandasangaree, called that “a good start.”
Gun rights groups dispute Ottawa’s estimate of how many firearms are eligible. The CCFR argues the number is far higher, saying more than two million firearms in Canada were previously non-restricted and are now prohibited due to recent bans. Anandasangaree has said the government stands by its figures and has criticized what he called “a range of misinformation” from the gun lobby.
Gun control groups criticize rally timing
Gun control advocates are taking direct aim at the rally’s timing and tone after the Tumbler Ridge killings.
PolySeSouvient called the event “incredibly insensitive and disrespectful” while survivors and families are grieving. The group also criticized what it sees as a celebratory atmosphere around an issue tied to mass shootings, and argued the prohibited firearms were banned for public safety reasons because similar models are typically used in such attacks.
Provinces, police, and enforcement roles
Quebec supports the federal compensation program, but several other provinces and territories, including Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario, and Newfoundland and Labrador, have rejected participation in the plan.
The RCMP and Quebec’s provincial police are expected to play key roles in collecting firearms eligible for compensation, while several other police services have said they will not assist.
Saturday’s rally is set to test how much momentum opponents can build in a province Ottawa and gun rights groups alike describe as pivotal, with the March declaration deadline and Oct. 30 amnesty end date looming over the whole debate.
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