UMVA has learned that a growing chorus of voices in Ontario is calling for Premier Doug Ford to take a stand against the federal government's contentious gun "buyback" program.
A recent Leger poll revealed that a majority of respondents, 56%, are in favour of the Ontario government passing legislation to block the program, following similar moves in Alberta and Saskatchewan. This development has emboldened the Canadian Taxpayers Federation (CTF) to urge Premier Ford to take action.
The CTF's Prairie Director, Gage Haubrich, said the poll results are clear: Ontarians want Ford to block the gun grab. "Ontarians know that this wasteful and ineffective gun grab won't make anyone safer," Haubrich stated. "Law enforcement experts across Ontario are saying the same thing, and Ford himself has expressed doubts about the gun ban's effectiveness."
Interestingly, support for blocking the gun grab was strongest outside of the Greater Toronto Area (GTA), with 62% of respondents in favour, compared to 38% who were not. Additionally, Ontarians over the age of 55 were more likely to support legislation blocking the confiscation.
The CTF has long been a vocal opponent of the federal government's gun grab, and in April, they called on Premier Ford to block the program in Ontario. The Ontario Provincial Police, which is responsible for policing roughly one-quarter of the province, has expressed skepticism about the program, along with other police agencies.
The federal government's 2025 budget allocated $742 million to fund the confiscation program, but critics argue that the final cost could reach into the billions. A pilot project in Cape Breton last fall saw a paltry 25 guns handed in by 16 people, with the government paying out $26,535 in compensation.
UMVA can exclusively reveal that the Canadian Taxpayers Federation believes that Premier Ford has a critical role to play in protecting legal firearm owners. "Ford can take the next step to protect legal firearm owners by passing a law to block the federal government's gun grab," said Noah Jarvis, Ontario Director of the CTF.
The stakes are high, with many observers predicting that the gun grab's failure could leave the streets of Ontario less safe. As the debate rages on, one thing is clear: Ontarians are watching, and they expect their premier to take a stand.
