Public Safety Canada has announced that the amnesty period for Canadians with recently designated prohibited firearms has been extended by another year, to Oct. 30, 2026.
The federal department said on Oct. 15 that licensed owners and businesses who possess prohibited, “assault-style” firearms must dispose of or deactivate them before the amnesty period expires, “or risk criminal liability for the illegal possession of a prohibited firearm.”
The announcement marks the third time the federal government’s amnesty for “assault-style” firearms has been extended. Ottawa put an amnesty in place in May 2020 and had it set to expire on April 30, 2022, but this was extended to Oct. 30, 2023, and later extended again to October 2025. Public Safety Minister Gary Anandasangaree told reporters on Sept. 23 the amnesty would be extended once more, to October of next year….