The National Police Federation is still unsure of its role in assisting with the federal gun buyback program.

NPF President and CEO Brian Sauve says he is meeting with the RCMP is the near future in hopes of learning what’s expected from NPF members, as the collection period deadline creeps closer. The application program for voluntary compensation ends March 31st, and the collection period start day is April 1st.

“I met with the (Firearms) Minister last week, and we talked about this. We got a few of the details, not very many. ‘In the weeds’ details. So, we know a little bit more, but what is the impact to our membership? We aren’t sure yet.”

Sauve says the issue is quite polarizing, so the government hasn’t been as openly transparent as it should be.

He calls on the powers at be to “Bring us into the fold when you discuss what the operational plan is going to look like if it’s going to involve members of the RCMP in different communities across the country, or even our federal policing presence.”

Sauve says the buyback could be costing the country as much as $1 billion when it’s all said and done, however it’s hard to understand the financial impacts of the new legislation when the policing requirements have yet to be laid out in detail.

“Are those police officers going to be required to provide security at a mobile collection unit? We don’t know yet, because we haven’t seen that plan or that detail of the plan. (Tell us) so we can begin to communicate with our own members what is expected of them.”

He adds that no matter what the final tab is, the group’s position is that the investments in firearm safety would be better used combatting illegal firearms trafficking.

Sauve says the data shows the vast majority of violent gun crime in Canada comes from illegally owned firearms, most often brought in from the United States.