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From: Juno News <junonews@substack.com>
Date: Tue, Sep 9, 2025 at 11:44 AM
Subject: RCMP faces $98M cut as Liberals push ahead with expensive gun grab
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RCMP faces $98M cut as Liberals push ahead with expensive gun grab

The Liberal government is barrelling ahead with a multi-billion-dollar firearms confiscation program that critics argue will be ineffective in fighting crime while slashing the RCMP’s budget by $98m.

Walid Tamtam, True North

Sep 9

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The Liberal government is barrelling ahead with a multi-billion-dollar firearms confiscation program that critics argue will be ineffective in fighting crime while slashing the RCMP’s budget by $98 million a year.

Tracy Wilson, with the Canadian Coalition for Firearm Rights (CCFR), called the contrast “stunning.”

“The Liberals slash RCMP budget while at the same time pushing forward with spending billions on a gun grab exclusively against licensed owners and their legally acquired firearms,” Wilson said.

For years, the legacy media has carried water for the Liberals’ so-called ‘gun buyback’ (i.e. forced confiscation) program. Become a Juno News premium subscriber today to support independent, hard-hitting news that matters to you.

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An internal email from RCMP Commissioner Mike Duheme confirmed the force must find two per cent in savings as part of the federal government’s broader spending reduction plan.

The cuts, which will affect current activities and programs, are expected to be developed in the coming weeks and presented in the 2026-27 estimates.

The decision comes as Ottawa doubles down on its so-called ‘firearms buyback’ program, first launched in 2020 through a Cabinet order. Over 5 years since the Liberal’s first ban announcement, the firearms in question remain with their licensed owners, although they are unable to be legally used.

The initiative, which bans more than 2,500 models of previously legal firearms, has been repeatedly delayed and is now scheduled to conclude by the end of 2026. Costs are expected to reach nearly $2 billion.

Public Safety Minister Gary Anandasangaree reaffirmed recently that the forced confiscation program remains a priority for Prime Minister Mark Carney’s government, telling the Toronto Star that enforcement would not be voluntary and owners would receive compensation.

The program has drawn sharp criticism from police on the ground.

Toronto Police Association President Clayton Campbell said the government seizure plan is “a waste of resources,” pointing out that nearly 90 per cent of guns seized in the city originate from the United States, with legal firearms almost never used in crimes.

“I can’t think of a time when a legal gun has been used in a crime in this city, not one,” Campbell said, adding that law enforcement resources would be better spent tackling violent repeat offenders and border smuggling.

He warned the confiscation plan could strain policing capacity if officers were tasked with locating firearms across the country.

“It would be tough. A lot of the time these are unrestricted firearms so we don’t know where they are. It’s really just a waste of resources,” Campbell said.

Watch Toronto Police Association President Clayton Campbell’s interview

Despite criticism, Anandasangaree said the government remains committed, arguing the program was a campaign promise Canadians expect to see delivered.

Meanwhile, RCMP members are waiting to learn which programs or services may be restructured or eliminated as part of the $98-million savings plan.

Duheme assured staff that "all decisions will prioritize the health and safety of our members on the frontline and the communities we serve."

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