FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - 01/22/26
TORONTO, ON – Following the official launch of the federal government’s firearms compensation program, Sean Conroy, Leader of the Ontario Libertarian Party (OLP), is calling out the Ford government’s "soft refusal" as an insufficient shield for law-abiding property owners.
While Premier Doug Ford has directed the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) to decline participation in the federal buyback, the OLP warns that this administrative maneuver fails to address the fundamental threat to provincial jurisdiction and individual property rights.
"The PCs are playing a game of administrative 'wait and see' while a ticking clock counts down to the October 30 amnesty deadline," said Conroy. "Refusing to sign a cheque for the federal government is a fiscal start, but it does nothing to protect an Ontarian when a federal agent eventually comes to their door. This isn't just about policing priorities or budgets; it is about the state’s lack of authority to seize private property from citizens who have broken no laws."
The Ontario Libertarian Party is advocating for a more robust legislative response modelled on provincial sovereignty over property and civil rights.
The OLP’s proposed Property Rights Act would:
- Codify Property Protections: Explicitly protect the right of Ontarians to own and enjoy property without arbitrary federal interference.
- Create a Legal Shield: Prohibit any provincial or municipal entity from facilitating the seizure of firearms while providing a legal framework for owners to challenge federal overreach in provincial courts.
- End the "Legal Limbo": Address the looming October 30 deadline by asserting provincial jurisdiction over the items in question, preventing law-abiding citizens from becoming criminals by default.
"For years, the PCs have claimed to be the party of law and order, yet they are allowing the federal government to redefine 'criminal' to include thousands of peaceful Ontarians," Conroy added. "A Libertarian government would not just 'decline to help'; we would actively defend your right to your property. It is time for a leader who treats your rights as absolute, not as a bargaining chip with Ottawa."
The Ontario Libertarian Party remains committed to the principle that "guns are not the problem, people are," and will continue to fight for the restoration of constitutional and property rights for all Ontarians.
