Saskatchewan lets gun owners keep prohibited firearms with new exemption certificates

A bold provincial move defies Ottawa's firearm restrictions—but will it hold up? Owners gain time as legal and financial battles loom.

, and Administrator

2026 March 13 . 9:07 PM

1 min read

The image shows a drawing of a gun on a piece of paper with text and numbers. The text reads... — The image shows a drawing of a gun on a piece of paper with text and numbers. The text reads "Garand Rifle Patent" and the numbers indicate the various parts of the gun, such as the barrel, trigger, and trigger guard.

Saskatchewan lets gun owners keep prohibited firearms with new exemption certificates

Saskatchewan has introduced a new way for gun owners to keep their firearms under the federal Assault-Style Firearms Compensation Program. The province passed an amendment to its Firearms Act, allowing owners to obtain exemption certificates for prohibited weapons. Premier Scott Moe has stated that no firearms will be seized in Saskatchewan as a result of these changes.

The amendment lets gun owners apply for certificates to legally store firearms that fall under federal restrictions. These certificates will remain valid until the federal government provides compensation based on market value, as assessed by the Saskatchewan Firearms Commissioner. Owners can request appraisals and exemption documents for affected firearms, ammunition, and accessories in the coming weeks.

The federal compensation program has a deadline of March 31. However, concerns have been raised about funding, as Ottawa may not cover the full appraised value set by the province. Some experts warn that the new system could allow previously illegal firearms to be retained legally by their owners.

Saskatchewan's approach gives gun owners a temporary way to keep prohibited firearms while awaiting federal compensation. The province's exemption certificates will remain in place until Ottawa fulfils its payment obligations. This move shifts responsibility to the federal government to resolve the financial and legal uncertainties surrounding the program.