The Stratford Police Services Board has voted to decline participation in the federal government’s program to buy back prohibited firearms in Stratford, Ontario. The board decided on February 18, 2026, to focus local police resources on frontline duties and illegal guns instead of helping to run the federal compensation plan.
Acting Deputy Chief Jason Clarke told the board that 54 people in the Stratford area currently own a total of 83 of these prohibited firearms. The board’s decision follows a statement from the Ontario Association of Chiefs of Police, which does not consider the buyback program a priority for public safety and has declined to endorse it.
Local residents who wish to receive money for their firearms have until March 31, 2026, to register with the federal government. A legal grace period that protects owners from criminal charges for having these weapons will end on October 30, 2026, regardless of whether a local police service participates in the program.
Stratford joins several other organizations, including the Ontario Provincial Police, in opting out of the administrative work for the buyback. In contrast, the nearby Waterloo Regional Police Service recently announced it would take part after reaching a deal for the federal government to cover all its costs.
Owners who do not participate in the compensation program must still dispose of or deactivate their prohibited firearms by the October deadline to avoid potential criminal liability. The Stratford Police will continue to accept firearms that residents choose to hand over voluntarily, but no payment will be provided for those surrenders.
