Canada expands gun ban, proposes donating firearms to Ukraine

The Canadian government announced Thursday a ban on an additional 324 firearm models, continuing its efforts to restrict weapons deemed inappropriate for civilian use. Public Safety Minister Dominic LeBlanc characterized the targeted firearms as belonging "on the battlefield," not in the hands of hunters or sport shooters.

This latest move builds on the 2020 prohibition of 1,500 firearm models, a list that has since expanded to over 2,000 as new variants have been identified. The new ban addresses concerns from gun-control advocates that previous measures left many assault-style firearms unregulated.

"These firearms can no longer be used," LeBlanc stated.

Guns for Ukraine 

In an unprecedented step, Canada is collaborating with Ukraine to donate some of the banned firearms to support its defense against Russia's invasion. Defense Minister Bill Blair confirmed discussions with Ukrainian authorities, who expressed interest in the weapons.

"Every bit of assistance we can offer to the Ukrainians is one step toward their victory," Blair said.

Planned buyback programme

The federal government also reiterated its commitment to a national buyback program for prohibited firearms. The initiative, developed with provincial, territorial, and law enforcement agencies, aims to remove these weapons from private ownership.

A response to past tragedies

The announcement comes on the eve of the 35th anniversary of the 1989 École Polytechnique shooting in Montreal, where a gunman killed 14 women before taking his own life. The Ruger Mini-14 used in that attack was among the firearms banned in 2020.

Nathalie Provost, a survivor of the attack, voiced her support for the new measures. "These are just killing weapons, war weapons, military weapons," she said. "I'm proud we are doing something."

Opposition criticism

Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre criticized the measures, accusing Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's government of targeting "licensed and law-abiding hunters and sport shooters" in a political stunt.

Despite fewer mass shootings compared to the United States, Canada faces challenges with illegal firearms smuggled across the border, which are often linked to criminal activities.