Albertans declared more than 7,000 banned weapons under Ottawa’s gun buyback program, according to figures released by the federal government Wednesday.

But given ongoing disagreement around jurisdiction, the path forward for Albertans to receive compensation is murky, with Alberta’s chief firearms officer telling CBC News that’s up to the federal government to figure out.

Public Safety Canada said more than 67,000 banned guns have been declared by 37,869 firearm owners across Canada as of March 31.

Of those, 7,334 firearms were declared in Alberta, putting it fourth on the list behind Ontario, British Columbia and Quebec.

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Alberta resisting plan

Ottawa has banned about 2,500 firearms, arguing that what they call “assault-style” firearms are largely designed for warfare, not hunting or sport shooting. Owners of banned guns had until March 31 to voluntarily declare.

It’s unclear how Albertans who participated will be compensated. Alberta has resisted the program, directing all provincial entities, including law enforcement agencies, to decline to implement the gun program under its provincial sovereignty legislation.

“Alberta’s government stands by its decision not to participate in the federal firearm confiscation program,” Minister of Justice Mickey Amery wrote in a statement.

“The federal firearm confiscation program was an expensive, waste of time that will not make a meaningful impact on public safety. Alberta believes in a principled and informed approach to firearm policy that does not target law-abiding gun owners and addresses real problems.”

While Quebec supports the plan, other provinces have also resisted. Along with Alberta, Saskatchewan also passed legislation aimed at hindering the program, something Federal Public Safety Minister Gary Anandasangaree called “regrettable” earlier this week.

“It means that the citizens who are law-abiding and who have enrolled in the program, regrettably, will not be eligible for compensation,” he said.

Teri Bryant, Alberta’s chief firearms officer, said Anandasangaree’s comments were an attempt to “shift the blame.”

“What have they done, and what path have they set up to carry this out? Because we cannot block them from doing things, but we’re under no obligation to help them to do things that we disagree with,” Bryant told CBC News.

Beginning this month, Public Safety Canada said it will begin assessing declarations and that individuals will receive a message in the coming weeks with more information. It has said collection appointments will be with the RCMP, a mobile collection unit, or local police.

But those who live in Saskatchewan or Alberta should “consult” their provincial government for additional rules that could affect participation, the department wrote.

“Collection appointments and options may vary by region and must comply with all applicable provincial laws,” reads a notice on the Public Safety Canada website.

Gun owners watching closely

Andre Reed, president of the Hanna Rod and Gun Club, said he was surprised to see the number of Albertans who declared.

“I was shocked at that. I didn’t think they’d get that many, to be honest,” he said.

“I guess some people are still wanting to do the … I won’t say the right thing, but do what the government asks them.”

Reed said the buyback has been discussed at length amongst his fellow gun owners, many of whom are anxiously eyeing down an October deadline.

The federal government says prohibited guns must be disposed of or deactivated by Oct. 30, whether a gun owner sought compensation or not. Owners who fail to do so could risk criminal liability for illegal possession, Public Safety Canada says.

“They just think it’s an outrage, and they think it’s government overreach,” Reed said of the gun club’s membership. “I don’t know what else to say about it. I just don’t agree with it.”

On Wednesday, gun control advocacy group PolySeSouvient said participation across Canada was “disappointing,” though not catastrophic.

“That being said, this could be as much a ‘glass half-full’ as a ‘glass half-empty’ situation — with respect to participation,” the group wrote in a statement.

“Despite pervasive disinformation and daily pleas to refuse to participate from the gun lobby, about half of the estimated number of affected firearms have been registered by their owners.”

A growing standoff

Noah Schwartz, an assistant professor in political science at the University of the Fraser Valley, whose research includes a focus on gun policy, said the country finds itself in “uncharted waters” here.

“I don’t think this is something that we’ve gone through before as a country,” he said.

“I think it’s sort of indicative of the way that the government has thrown this together in a slapdash fashion without a clear plan, or really trying to speak to the provinces or negotiate or get them on board.”

The number of firearms declared in Alberta wasn’t surprising, in his view, given per-capita firearms ownership in Western Canada.

“The estimates from the government of how many of them are out there are also really tricky to pin down, because a lot of these firearms were non-restricted beforehand,” he said.

Last month, the Supreme Court of Canada said it would hear arguments against the government’s ban from the Canadian Coalition for Firearm Rights and others.

That’s part of what’s become a growing standoff between advocacy groups, the federal and provincial governments, Schwartz said.