The Canadian Taxpayers Federation is calling on Ontario Premier Doug Ford to stand up for gun owners and taxpayers by passing legislation to block Ottawa’s gun ban in Ontario.

“Ford is right to oppose Ottawa for wasting money on this program that police say won’t make Ontarians safer,” said Gage Haubrich, CTF Prairie Director. “But now he needs to follow the lead of Alberta and Saskatchewan and pass legislation to block Ottawa’s gun ban in Ontario.”

Ford has publicly stated that the gun ban is ineffective.

“You’re focusing on the wrong group,” Ford said about Ottawa’s gun grab. “I support law-abiding hunters and gun owners.”

All provinces, except for British Columbia and Quebec, are refusing to participate in Ottawa’s gun ban and confiscation scheme.

The governments of Alberta and Saskatchewan have gone further and passed laws to block the federal government from confiscating guns in those provinces.

The government has committed at least $742 million to carry out its gun ban and confiscation scheme, according to Budget 2025. Other experts estimate the total cost to taxpayers could reach $6 billion.

According to Leger polling, among those with an opinion, 62 per cent of Ontarians think that the money Ottawa is budgeting for gun confiscation should fund law enforcement instead.

Law-enforcement experts have been saying for years that Ottawa’s program won’t work.

“We know that the gun buyback program is going to have, essentially, zero impact on the crime in Toronto,” said Clayton Campbell, the president of the Toronto Police Association.

Dozens of police forces across the country have also declined to participate in the program.

“Law enforcement experts in Ontario say the gun grab will do nothing to make this province safer,” said Noah Jarvis, CTF Ontario Director. “All governments need to focus on the real problem of criminals and illegal guns, not going after licensed firearm owners.”