Saskatchewan's Lowest Firearms Compensation Rates

0:00It's April 1st. You're listening to Vancouver News today. AI-powered local news. Saskatchewan's got the lowest per capita turnout in Canada's assault-style firearms compensation program. As of March 19th, just 793 guns were declared there. The fewest per person across the country. Experts say it'll drop even more, with folks pulling out their applications nationwide. The province pushback hard, tweaking laws for exemptions on compensation. Only Quebec signed on to the federal plan so far. Saskatchewan's also against using local cops to collect the ban firearms, saying they're focused on real crime fighting instead. Gun owners and advocates are fired up and frustrated. One guy spend days helping a buddy apply for his AR-15, but got zero response. National groups call the ban's political theater, pointing to a minister's leaked audio doubting the program's real aim. Federally, they expected 136,000 declarations, but only hit 47,000 so far.

1:03The Canadian coalition for firearm rights is appealing to the Supreme Court over the bans. Owners grab about mixed messages from Ottawa and provinces on payouts. Ministers say eligible folks can still get compensated if they turn in guns during the grace period ending October 31st. They'll review the whole mess before fall enforcement kicks in, but what happens next varies by province.