Saskatchewan passed the Firearms Amendment Act on Monday to allow owners of prohibited firearms to bypass the federal gun-buyback program [1, 2].
The move represents a direct legislative challenge to federal authority over firearm regulations. By creating a provincial pathway for exemptions and compensation, the administration of Premier Scott Moe is attempting to shield residents from federal mandates regarding the surrender of banned weapons.
Under the new law, which took effect May 4, owners of prohibited firearms can apply for certificates of exemption [2, 3]. This mechanism allows individuals to keep recently banned firearms while they seek compensation that the province argues is more equitable than federal offers [3].
Provincial officials said that the legislation is designed to protect the interests of law-abiding citizens. A provincial minister of justice said, "Our goal is to keep Ottawa out of the province’s gun-safe program and let Saskatchewan decide how to handle prohibited weapons" [2].
Advocacy groups and legal experts suggest the province is prioritizing market value over the government's fixed rates. Keenan Sorokan said the amendments give Saskatchewan gun owners a way to get fair market value for their prohibited firearms rather than the low rates offered by the federal buy-back [1].
Beyond financial compensation, the province aims to maintain autonomy over the storage and safety regulations of firearms within its borders. The administration intends to keep the federal government out of provincial gun-safe regulations to ensure local control over how prohibited weapons are managed [1, 2].
“Our goal is to keep Ottawa out of the province’s gun-safe program”
This legislation creates a jurisdictional conflict between provincial and federal law in Canada. By establishing a separate provincial system for exemptions and compensation, Saskatchewan is testing the limits of provincial authority over public safety and property rights, potentially encouraging other provinces to resist federal firearm bans.
