By 

October 21, 2021

-Western Standard

 

The Liberal gun grab hasn’t taken a single firearm off the streets yet, but the cost is already rising rapidly, says the Canadian Taxpayers Federation.

“We’re already seeing costs go higher and the government hasn’t bought back a single gun,” said Franco Terrazzano, federal director with the CTF.

“The gun buyback won’t make Canadians safer, but it has all the makings of another big taxpayer boondoggle.”

The CTF said last December the Public Safety department handed a contract to IBM Canada to help develop the firearms buyback framework at a total estimated cost of more than $1.1 million.

By May, the total estimated cost already jumped to just more than $1.5 million after several contract amendments.

The department said the original contract given to IBM included optional services, which could increase the value of the contract up to $395,600. Public Safety decided to ask for those services, said the CTF.

The government has yet to buy back any guns and the program remains under development.

“The gun buyback is an expensive program that won’t keep Canadians safe,” said Terrazzano.

“The feds need to scrap the gun ban and buyback because we don’t need another ineffective policy and taxpayers can’t afford to waste more money.”

Earlier this year, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced the buyback program for the nearly 1,500 “assault rifle style” firearms.

Under the new regulations, these guns could not be legally used, transported, sold, transferred or bequeathed.

The new restrictions will also include new “red flag” and “yellow flag” laws that would allow people, such as concerned friends or relatives, to apply to the courts for the removal of a person’s firearms.

The program will pay some compensation to owners of firearms that were made illegal, but some experts say it will cost taxpayers billions of dollars and turn into a boondoggle.

Gary Mauser, senior fellow at the Fraser Institute, said whatever plan the Liberals come up with will likely end up being a billion-dollar boondoggle, adding any buyback plan could cost up to $5 billion.

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