The provincial government is giving law-abiding gun owners another tool in the toolkit to save their firearms from the federal gun buyback program.
Minister Responsible for the Firearms Secretariate Tim McLeod says as of May 1st, firearms owners have access to the brand-new Firearms Verification and Appraisal Service.
Owners of a gun on the federal banned list can log into the FVA website and request an appraisal and a certificate of exemption. This will notify owners of their firearm’s fair market value and allow them to keep storing their firearm past the October 30th amnesty extension.
“This is about valuing that property, providing fair market value and fair compensation to property owners. That firearm needs to be stored safely. You’re doing the provincial government a favour by continuing to safely store it on your own, and that’s what creates the exemption. “
McLeod adds that the federal government will not be willing or able to compensate owners at fair market value for over 2,500 banned firearm models. He also notes that in order to seize a firearm in Saskatchewan, you need to be a licensed seizure agent, of which there are currently none in the province.
Prince Albert Police Chief Patrick Nogier explains that the federal buyback program is a poor use of taxpayer dollars that should be going towards a crackdown on crime guns and firearms trafficking.
“Let’s take a snapshot of what’s happening in Prince Albert. In 2024-25, 220 crime guns were taken off the street. These are not guns that are part of this federal legislation. These are guns that are being used to have a negative impact on our communities.”
He says crime guns are, instead, being trafficked in from other provinces and the Unites States.
For those who aren’t comfortable applying for appraisals and certificates of exemption online, there are manual entry forms and a client services division that is available by telephone, as well. The turnaround time between applying and receiving your certificate and appraisal will be several weeks.
McLeod expects several other provinces to follow suit with similar programs, as a handful have already reached out to ask for the framework.
