Waterloo Regional Police Service to Participate in Federal Assault-Style Firearms Compensation Program
The Waterloo Regional Police Service (WRPS) has entered into an agreement with Public Safety Canada to participate in the Assault-Style Firearms Compensation Program (ASFCP).
As part of this program, the WRPS will provide law-abiding firearm owners in the Region of Waterloo a safe and controlled location to drop off affected prohibited firearms.
The agreement provides WRPS with full cost recovery while ensuring zero impact to WRPS frontline or investigative operations. WRPS’ participation is fully funded by the Government of Canada with no financial impact to the Regional tax base.
Since May 2020, the Government of Canada has prohibited over 2,500 types of Assault-Style Firearms previously available for purchase and ownership. A Criminal Code amnesty period that protects licensed businesses and individual owners from criminal liability is currently in effect until October 30, 2026. Those eligible firearm owners who declare their prohibited firearm for disposal or deactivation by March 31, 2026, will be able to seek compensation, which will be coordinated and administered solely by the Government of Canada.
“While we will continue to prioritize reducing violent crime, holding violent offenders accountable, and removing illegal firearms locally, the ASFCP provides a safe and responsible location for gun owners to dispose of their prohibited firearms ahead of the federal deadline,” said Mark Crowell, WRPS Chief of Police. “As a police service, we have a duty to uphold the law and reduce the overall presence of illegal firearms in our community.”
According to Public Safety Canada, as of March 19, 2026, there have been more than 47,000 declared assault-style firearms eligible for compensation through this program in Canada and 19,176 declared in Ontario. Locally, WRPS is aware of more than 500 declarations in our Region, where owners intend to participate in this program.
The ASFCP Contact Centre [1-833-759-4551] is available for impacted owners seeking assistance, including those who require a paper declaration to apply by mail or who wish to receive information in Indigenous languages (Mohawk, Anishinaabe (Ojibwe), Inuktut (South Baffin), Cree, Algonquin, Dene, or Mi’kmaq).
For more information on the ASFCP, please visit: Assault-Style Firearms Compensation Program - Canada.ca.
Key 2026 Dates for ASFCP | ||
January 19, 2026 | Beginning of Declaration Period | All valid Possession and Acquisition License (PAL) holders were notified of the launch of the ASFCP with information on how to participate. |
February 23, 2026 | Reminder Notice to PAL holders | Reminder notice provided to all PAL holders that the declaration period will close March 31, 2026, and if they wish to be compensated, they need to declare their interest. |
March 31, 2026 | End of Declaration Period | Gun owners must declare their intent to participate in the compensation program. Only those who have submitted a declaration by this date will be eligible for compensation. |
April to October, 2026 | Appointment Period | Eligible participants will be able to schedule an appointment for the collection of their firearms by WRPS. |