Canada gun ban: Bans additional 324 military-style weapons, explores donation to Ukraine amid rising tensions

Thursday, Canada announced a ban on 324 additional firearm models, which the public security minister suggested were more suitable for war than for sporting or hunting purposes. The Canadian government is exploring options to donate these weapons to Ukraine in its defense against Russian aggression.
The ban follows an earlier ban from May 2020, which initially covered 1,500 firearm models and was expanded to more than 2,000 by November 2023 as additional types were identified.
In a statement, the Canadian government said, “As part of its broader approach, on December 5, 2024, the government announced a ban on more military-style assault-style weapons. The ban is accompanied by an amnesty order, which expires on October 30 , 2025, which protects businesses and owners when they comply with the law.”
Public Safety Minister Dominique LeBlanc announced these latest restrictions on Thursday, addressing gun-control advocates’ concerns about assault-style firearms not included in the 2020 ban. “This means these firearms can no longer be used,” LeBlanc said.
“Any help we can give to the Ukrainians is a step towards their victory,” Defense Minister Bill Blair said in support of Ukraine’s interest in acquiring some of these weapons.
The government is coordinating with provincial, territorial and law enforcement officials on a program to purchase prohibited weapons from current owners.
The announcement comes ahead of the 35th anniversary of the Ecole Polytechnique tragedy in Montreal, where 14 women lost their lives before the perpetrator committed suicide. The Ruger Mini-14 used in that incident was banned in 2020.
Nathalie Provost, a survivor of the attack, shared her experience: “These are just murder weapons, war weapons, military weapons, so I’m proud that we’re doing something.”
Despite acknowledging issues of illegally smuggled weapons being used in criminal activities, Canada experiences fewer mass shootings than the United States, in part due to access to tougher firearms, the AP news agency reported.
Opposition Leader Pierre Poilievre criticized the announcement as a “stunt” by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s government, claiming it unfairly targets “licensed and law-abiding hunters and sport shooters”.