Supreme Court opens two-day hearing on Ottawa's assault-style firearms ban

The Supreme Court of Canada opens a two-day hearing in Ottawa at 9:30 a.m. on Monday, November 9, into four appeals challenging the federal government's 2020 ban on assault-style firearms. It is the biggest hearing at the top court this fall, and the ruling will decide whether the ban stands and what happens to tens of thousands of affected gun owners.

The question: did cabinet have the power to ban guns by regulation?

The dispute traces to regulations issued by the federal cabinet on May 1, 2020 (SOR/2020-96), which prohibited more than 1,500 models and variants of firearms, including the AR-15 and the Beretta Cx4 Storm. The challengers argue cabinet had no power to impose such a sweeping ban by regulation, going beyond the authority in section 117.15(1) of the Criminal Code. The federal government says the ban protects public safety by targeting weapons used in mass shootings.

Lower courts ruled for Ottawa twice

The challenges have twice failed in the lower courts — the Federal Court dismissed them in 2023 and the Federal Court of Appeal upheld that ruling last year. On March 19, 2026, the Supreme Court agreed to hear four appeals, including those brought by Ottawa resident Christine Generoux and others and by the Canadian Coalition for Firearms Rights. The court is not expected to rule from the bench; a written decision will follow later. Public Safety Canada said in June 2026 that it expected the decision next year.

Self-represented litigants argue in person; three provinces oppose the ban

Unusually, several challengers will argue their own cases in person, including Generoux, who is set to argue on Monday morning. In her filing she said there was no justification to deem the guns unreasonable for recreational use; a sport-shooting group has called her an “unlikely heroine of Canadian gun culture.” Alberta, Saskatchewan and Ontario have all intervened against the ban — Ontario says plainly that “the regulations are unconstitutional” — and Alberta has hired veteran lawyer Guy Pratte to lead its arguments. The hearing will be webcast live.

Amnesty ends 90 days after judgment; $96 million paid in buyback so far

The continuing amnesty protecting owners of the prohibited firearms runs until 90 days after the Supreme Court's judgment. As of mid-2026, the federal government had paid businesses $96 million for about 74,000 guns — an average of $1,300 per weapon.