Kelly Pierce, a resident of Yellowknife, enjoys using her Plainfield Machine M1 Carbine firearm for recreational target practice. However, this particular firearm is among those banned in Canada and subject to a federal gun buyback initiative. The government has set a deadline of October 30 for owners like Pierce to either safely dispose of or permanently deactivate their assault-style firearms to avoid potential criminal repercussions.
In the Northwest Territories (N.W.T.), the administration of the federal buyback program presents challenges as the territorial government has indicated it will not oversee it. This decision leaves individuals like Pierce uncertain about the appropriate steps to take. The N.W.T. government announced that the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) in the region will not participate in the program, emphasizing their focus on core policing duties to enhance community safety.
Given the logistical hurdles in the N.W.T., including a shortage of local service providers, firearm owners in the territory may resort to using mailed return kits provided by Public Safety Canada. Additional collection options tailored to northern communities are also under consideration, although specific details have not been disclosed.
Pierce expressed frustration over the lack of clarity regarding the process of returning her firearm via mail. Meanwhile, Jonathan Rocheleau, the president of the Yellowknife Shooting Club, highlighted existing challenges in returning firearms in the N.W.T., citing difficulties encountered when attempting to return firearms to the RCMP in the past.
Rocheleau emphasized the importance of facilitating the disposal of firearms to prevent potential dangers associated with improperly deactivated weapons. With the absence of territorial government and RCMP involvement in the buyback program, there is a heightened risk that individuals may resort to disposing of prohibited firearms independently, or worse, retain them in their possession.
During the Dene National Assembly of First Nations, Dettah Chief Ernest Betsina criticized the federal buyback program for imposing additional restrictions on community members. The N.W.T. government echoed the need for transparent communication between the federal government and Indigenous governments in the territory regarding the buyback initiative.
Efforts to gather information on the program’s impact on Northern residents led CBC News to reach out to various stakeholders, including the Yellowknives Dene First Nation and N.W.T. MP Rebecca Alty’s office. A spokesperson for Alty clarified that the buyback program aims to eliminate assault-style firearms that pose significant risks, emphasizing that the initiative is not intended to hinder hunting or sport shooting activities.