OTTAWA — Public Safety Minister Gary Anandasangaree expressed skepticism about local police capabilities to enforce the federal government's mandatory gun buyback program. He suggested that Prime Minister Mark Carney's commitment to the policy is largely influenced by the need to satisfy voters in Quebec.

Anandasangaree's comments were made during a 20-minute conversation recorded without his consent and later shared by a gun rights advocate. He confirmed the authenticity of the recording, which reveals that the government plans to announce the next phase of the buyback program on Tuesday, including a pilot project in Cape Breton.

The Liberal government aims to advance this initiative this fall, targeting owners of approximately 1,500 types of firearms classified as “assault-style.” These firearms were banned following the tragic mass shooting in Nova Scotia in 2020.

In the recording, Anandasangaree stated, "Don’t ask me to explain the logic on this to you, OK," indicating that the upcoming announcement might not please everyone involved. The individual he spoke with, identifying as a gun owner, challenged the minister on the policy. At one point, Anandasangaree even offered to cover the difference in compensation and suggested he would help the individual if he faced legal consequences for refusing to surrender his firearms.

Under the current program, which has already been implemented for businesses, individuals must turn in their banned firearms in exchange for compensation. Earlier this year, the government expanded the list of prohibited models by adding another 200. Anandasangaree acknowledged that the existing amnesty, which protects individuals and businesses from criminal charges, will be extended beyond its current expiration in October 2025, although he did not specify the new timeline.

While the government has maintained that the buyback program is mandatory, Anandasangaree emphasized that participation is “voluntary.” He expressed doubt that police would need to forcibly collect firearms, stating, "I doubt very much it’s going to go that far. I just don’t think municipal police services have the resources to do this."

Last week, he confirmed that the Ontario Provincial Police would not participate in the program. The minister also mentioned that the program's budget is capped at $742 million, suggesting that the government may not fully utilize this amount.

Throughout the conversation, Anandasangaree did not defend the necessity of the buyback program but explained the government's decision to proceed despite significant opposition from gun owners, Indigenous groups, and criticism from the Conservative Party and provincial leaders like Alberta's Danielle Smith.

He stated, "Like I’m picking up where it was left off, right? This is the mandate I was given by Carney to complete this … and not revisit this." He added that his goal is to conclude this initiative and focus on other criminal justice measures, including stricter penalties for unlicensed firearms.

When asked about discussions with Carney regarding the policy, Anandasangaree noted that they have had "constant, constant discussions" about the next steps. He explained that the decision to maintain the program was influenced by commitments made during the spring election campaign.

Pressed on why the government would not reconsider its campaign promise, he cited the unique political landscape in Quebec, stating, "Quebec is in a different place than other parts of Canada, right? And this is something that (is) very much a big, big, big deal for many of the Quebec electorate that vote for us."

Towards the end of the conversation, Anandasangaree remarked that if he could start the policy over, he would take a different approach. In a follow-up statement, he described his comments as "misguided" and emphasized his commitment to the program, stating, "Anyone who knows me or has worked with me knows how seriously I take my job. No one should be mistaken about my unequivocal support for the program."