Latest Assault-Style Firearms Compensation Program now underway

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Posted January 19, 2026

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Beginning today, all valid Possession and Acquisition License (PAL) holders will be notified of the launch of the Assault-Style Firearms Compensation Program (ASFCP) to all eligible firearms owners nation-wide.

 

Eligible firearms owners will have until March 31, 2026, to submit a declaration in the online portal or by mail. Owners are encouraged to submit a declaration as early as possible to ensure they receive compensation. Declarations will be processed primarily on a first come first served basis, aligned with the availability of funds.

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This program includes firearms prohibited in December 2024 and March 2025, and continue accepting those prohibited in May 2020.

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Following the declaration period, eligible participants will only be able to schedule an appointment through the ASFCP for collection by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), police of jurisdiction or a mobile collection unit to turn in their prohibited firearms for validation and destruction.

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While participation to obtain compensation through the program is voluntary, compliance with the law is not. All owners who do not participate in the program must dispose of or permanently deactivate their prohibited firearms and devices before the amnesty period ends on October 30, 2026. Owners in possession of a prohibited firearm or device following this date will be non-compliant with legislation and could face the loss of their PAL, as well as criminal liability.

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Alongside the ASFCP, the government is hiring an additional 1,000 Canada Border Service Agency Officers and 1,000 RCMP personnel to tackle illicit firearms trafficking, strengthening enforcement at the border with Canada's $1.3 billion Border Plan, implementing mandatory licence refusal for those suspected of domestic violence or stalking, restricting access to handguns, and launching a comprehensive review of Canada's firearms classification regime.

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• The Government of Canada also recognizes that hunting is an important tradition for many Canadians, which will continue to be the case. Over 19,000 non-restricted makes and models, equating to over 127,000 variations of firearms, remain available for hunting and sport shooting in Canada.

• The compensation program for businesses ran successfully between November 2024 and April 2025 for firearms prohibited in May 2020. Over 12,000 firearms have already been collected and destroyed.

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• List of prohibited firearms (2024) https://shorturl.at/PEtQs

• List of prohibited firearms (2025) https://shorturl.at/bRvzh