N.W.T. government won’t administer federal gun buyback program

Kelly Pierce has a firearm that she likes to use for target practice.

“I use it just to go shoot for fun at the range. Just shoot at targets,” the Yellowknife woman said.

That firearm, a Plainfield Machine M1 Carbine, is on a list of firearms that are banned in Canada and part of a federal gun buyback program.

For owners like Pierce, Ottawa demands they must “safely dispose of, or permanently deactivate their assault-style firearms” before Oct. 30 or they risk criminal liability for illegally possessing a prohibited firearm.

But participating in the federal buyback program might not be so straightforward in the N.W.T., as the territorial government says it’s not going to administer it. That leaves Pierce, and possibly others, with little direction on how to proceed.

A news release from the N.W.T. government this week also said that RCMP in the territory would not be involved in the program.

“The [Government of Northwest Territories] has maintained ongoing communication with Public Safety Canada (PSC) and has consistently communicated that it will not administer the program,” the release reads.

“This includes confirmation that the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) in the Northwest Territories will continue to focus on core policing responsibilities to support community safety.”

CBC News contacted the territorial government for more information but did not receive a reply before publication.

The government news release says that logistical challenges in the territory, including a lack of local service providers, means Public Safety Canada will allow N.W.T. firearm owners to use mailed return kits. It adds there are “other collection options tailored to northern communities,” but does not provide details.

For Pierce, the details about how she can mail her firearm back are still unclear, she said.

“It is very frustrating, that’s for sure,” she said.

CBC News reached out to Public Safety Canada for more details but did not hear back before publication.

Returning firearms already difficult, resident says

Jonathan Rocheleau, president of the Yellowknife Shooting Club, says even apart from the federal buyback program, it’s already difficult returning a firearm in the N.W.T.

Rocheleau said he tried returning some firearms to RCMP last fall, but police never showed up. 

“I am guessing they are too busy,” he said. 

Rocheleau said it’s important to make it as easy as possible for people to dispose of firearms because otherwise, it’s dangerous.

“If they’re not properly deactivated … there is the possibility that someone could go find them at the dump or whatever and put them back together, so to speak,” said Rocheleau.

Because the territorial government isn’t involved in the federal buyback program, nor are N.W.T. RCMP, Rocheleau said there’s an added risk of people disposing of their prohibited guns themselves.

“Either that or people will just hold on to them in their gun safes for as long as they can,” he said. 

Chief slams ‘more restrictions’ on community members

Dettah Chief Ernest Betsina also slammed the federal program during the Dene National Assembly of First Nations last week.

“I just can’t believe that the federal government would try to impose more restrictions on members living in the community,” he said during the assembly. 

The N.W.T. government, in its news release, also urged “clear and direct communication between the federal government and Indigenous governments in the Northwest Territories” about the buyback program.

CBC News reached out to Yellowknives Dene First Nation to ask whether the federal government had been in contact but did not hear back before publication.

CBC News also contacted N.W.T. MP Rebecca Alty’s office about how the federal program might affect people living in the North.

A spokesperson for Alty wrote back, saying the buyback program “is focused on removing assault-style firearms designed to inflict maximum damage from our communities. It is not about restricting hunting or sport shooting.”