Quebec City (Rajeev Sharma): Groups opposed to the federal government’s firearms ban and the recently launched Assault-Style Firearms Compensation Program (ASFCP) are organizing a major rally this Saturday, February 28, 2026. The protest, set to take place outside the Quebec National Assembly, aims to challenge what advocates call the “ideological scapegoating” of law-abiding gun owners.
The timing of the event has drawn sharp criticism, coming just weeks after a tragic mass shooting in Tumbler Ridge, B.C., on February 10, which claimed nine lives. While gun control groups like PolySeSouvient have labeled the rally “insensitive” and a “slap in the face” to survivors, organizers maintain that Quebec is the “ground zero” for the federal government’s efforts and that a strong turnout is essential to halting the program’s nationwide momentum.
Regional Participation and Political Stance
The National Firearms Association (NFA) and the Canadian Coalition for Firearm Rights (CCFR) are leading the mobilization, with participants expected to arrive by bus from about two dozen Quebec communities. Organizers argue that hunters, farmers, and sport shooters are being unfairly targeted by a policy they claim will not affect criminal activity.
While the Quebec government has supported the federal initiative and signed a $12.4-million agreement to assist in its implementation, several other provinces—including Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario, and Newfoundland and Labrador—have formally snubbed the plan.
Program Status and Key Deadlines
Public Safety Minister Gary Anandasangaree reported that over 32,000 firearms have been declared since the sign-up period opened six weeks ago. The government has earmarked approximately $250 million to compensate owners for roughly 136,000 prohibited firearms.
Owners of outlawed firearms, which include models like the AR-15 and Ruger Mini-14, have until the end of March to declare their interest in the compensation program. The amnesty period is set to conclude on October 30, 2026, by which time all prohibited items must be surrendered or permanently deactivated.
