Toronto police ask for more details on federal gun buyback program

Toronto police say no operationally viable plan was presented and have asked the federal government for more information; the federal buyback program gives Canadians about two months to declare interest in turning in banned firearms.

Toronto police have not ruled out participating in the national gun buyback program and say they have asked the federal government for more information. A spokesperson, Nadine Ramadan, said an "operationally viable plan" was not presented. The service said it must focus efforts on areas they believe will have the greatest public safety impact, including illegal firearms entering Canada from the United States. The federal government recently announced additional details and set a roughly two-month window for Canadians to declare interest in the compensation program. What is known: - Toronto police have requested more details from the federal government and will review the program once information is provided. - The Toronto Police Service spokesperson described no operationally viable plan as having been presented. - The Toronto Police Association supports holding back endorsement and its president, Clayton Campbell, questioned the program's impact on city gun violence; the association represents more than 8,700 members. - Public Safety Minister Gary Anandasangaree said the compensation program is voluntary but that compliance with the law is not, and he acknowledged technical legal challenges in Alberta and Saskatchewan. - Since 2020, Ottawa has banned about 2,500 makes and models described as "assault-style" firearms. - An anti-gun advocate from Danforth Families for Safe Communities said police should participate to help gun owners comply with the law; that group formed after the 2018 Danforth shooting. Summary: Toronto police's request for more information means the service will withhold endorsement until it can review operational details. The federal program includes a limited window for Canadians to register interest and faces legal questions in some provinces. Officials on both sides described their positions publicly and further procedural steps depend on information yet to be provided.