Government of Saskatchewan ministries, Crown corporations and organizations are working to minimize the impacts of the postal service disruption.
Les ministères, les sociétés d’État et les organismes du gouvernement de la Saskatchewan travaillent à réduire au minimum les répercussions de l’interruption des services postaux.
Google Translate Disclaimer
A number of pages on the Government of Saskatchewan's website have been professionally translated in French. These translations are identified by a yellow box in the right or left rail that resembles the link below. The home page for French-language content on this site can be found at:
Where an official translation is not available, Google™ Translate can be used. Google™ Translate is a free online language translation service that can translate text and web pages into different languages. Translations are made available to increase access to Government of Saskatchewan content for populations whose first language is not English.
Software-based translations do not approach the fluency of a native speaker or possess the skill of a professional translator. The translation should not be considered exact, and may include incorrect or offensive language. The Government of Saskatchewan does not warrant the accuracy, reliability or timeliness of any information translated by this system. Some files or items cannot be translated, including graphs, photos and other file formats such as portable document formats (PDFs).
Any person or entities that rely on information obtained from the system does so at his or her own risk. Government of Saskatchewan is not responsible for any damage or issues that may possibly result from using translated website content. If you have any questions about Google™ Translate, please visit: Google™ Translate FAQs.
Questions about the federal firearms buyback program and Saskatchewan’s response to the program? Call the Saskatchewan Firearms Office at 1-833-792-2706. Hours of operation are Monday to Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. (EST).
The Saskatchewan Firearms Office (SFO) is responsible for supporting safe communities by managing the ownership, purchase, movement and use of firearms within the province through the administration of federal firearms legislation.
The SFO has assumed the responsibilities administering the federal Firearms Act under the Canada Firearms Program (CFP). The CFP is a Canadian government program within the RCMP's Policing Support Services, and it is responsible for the regulation and licensing of firearms in Canada.
The SFO's responsibilities include issuing the following:
Saskatchewan, like every province, also appoints firearms officers to conduct inspections and ensure compliance is adhered to within the definition of the Firearms Act.
The Government of Saskatchewan fully supports initiatives aimed at reducing the criminal use of illegal firearms, preventing gang violence, and stopping the smuggling and sale of illegal firearms.
The buyback program will neither address the illegal firearms used in violent crime nor enhance public safety. Instead, it targets rural, Indigenous and sport-shooting communities across Saskatchewan and Canada. Many of the firearms targeted by this program are hunting rifles and collector’s items.
“This program will not remove the street weapons that are being used by criminals,” Justice Minister and Attorney General Tim McLeod said. “The federal government is targeting law-abiding firearms owners, and they have now confirmed that they will be offering little or no compensation. This is completely unacceptable. Our government is committed to safeguarding the heritage of firearms owners. This spring we are advancing amendments to The Saskatchewan Firearms Act to help ensure our affected firearms owners receive compensation for their legally obtained property that is now prohibited by federal firearms legislation. We will continue to look at all options to protect law-abiding firearms owners, while taking meaningful measures that will actually improve community safety.”
“We want to make it clear that there is nothing in our legislation that prevents Saskatchewan firearms owners from participating in the federal buyback program if they desire to do so,” SFO Commissioner Robert Freberg said. "We share the frustrations of law-abiding firearms owners that they are being unfairly treated and being threatened with criminal liability if they do not declare firearms for which they are unlikely to receive appropriate compensation.
The buyback is an extremely costly and ineffective use of taxpayer dollars. The federal government has allocated roughly $742 million for the buyback program overall. However, they announced over the weekend that only $248.6 million will be available to provide compensation to remove roughly 136,000 prohibited firearms from individual firearms owners across Canada. As a result, the majority of firearms owners in Canada will not receive compensation for their legally owned and legally obtained property.
The program will operate on a “first-come, first-served” basis, and the federal government has confirmed that registering in the portal will not guarantee compensation for firearms owners.
If firearms owners wish to potentially receive compensation through the federal firearms buyback program, they must declare their interest through the federal firearms portal by March 31, 2026. Late submissions will not be eligible to receive compensation from the federal government.
More information on Saskatchewan’s response to the buyback program will be announced in the coming weeks.
The Government of Saskatchewan has introduced amendments to The Saskatchewan Firearms Act in response to the federal government moving forward with its national firearms buyback program. Once the amendments are passed, firearms will be declared as “seized” in Saskatchewan if the firearm is affected by federal firearms legislation or bans AND the owner does not receive fair market compensation within 12 months of the federal legislation or ban coming into effect.
Anyone who seizes a firearm under new federal firearms laws (i.e., the federal government) will be required to pay the owner fair market value as determined by the SFO’s Saskatchewan Firearms Commissioner.
An online portal will soon be launched to provide appraisals for all firearms, ammunition and accessories impacted by federal legislation. The appraisals will be used to help ensure all affected Saskatchewan firearms owners receive fair compensation from the federal government.
Once the amendments come into effect, the SFO will be allowed to collect and store firearms on behalf of Saskatchewan firearms owners, so they can avoid potential possession of prohibited firearms charges, while pursuing compensation from the federal government.
To further strengthen firearms safety in our communities, amendments have also been put forward allowing:
A Possession and Acquisition Licence is required for anyone who owns or would like to acquire a firearm or purchase ammunition.
The following links will help you navigate to the appropriate licence you'll need:
Registration
Find information about the types of firearms and firearm registration requirements for restricted and prohibited firearms.
Shooting Clubs and Ranges
Find information on design guidelines and sound requirements.
Importing and Exporting
Find information on importing and exporting firearms into and outside of Canada.
Stolen Firearms Search
You can check whether a firearm has been reported as stolen by entering the serial number into a public search.
Further firearms-related information is available through the RCMP.
The Saskatchewan Firearms Office continues to raise public awareness to promote firearms safety in the province. The goal is to promote safe practices while using and storing firearms, as well as getting and maintaining your Possession and Acquisition Licence (PAL/RPAL), to help prevent accidents and mitigate loss or theft.
More information on firearms safety training and safety practices is also available.
It is important to store your firearms safely to prevent accidents and deter loss or theft. It is also required by law.
Many responsible firearms owners in Saskatchewan enjoy hunting or travelling to other destinations for reasons that require them to bring their firearms.
The Saskatchewan Firearms Office and law enforcement agencies advise firearms owners to be vigilant about not leaving firearms in an unattended vehicle or location, such as a hotel room, where they may be targeted by individuals who recognize the potential to take firearms and divert them towards illegal activities.
Make suitable arrangements with your accommodations provider to store your firearms in a place where they can be properly secured. Take into account that they must have a secure locking device in place when not in use, as well as any other storage requirements depending on the class of the firearms being stored.
When stopping for services such as restaurants and gas stations along the way, someone should stay with the vehicle, or park it in a location where it can be easily observed by you or others travelling with you. Always ensure the firearms are unloaded, secured and out of sight.
As responsible firearms owners, it is important to continue to do our part to prevent firearms from getting diverted and used illegally.
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