Alberta Premier Danielle Smith says her government will table a motion next week under the Alberta Sovereignty Act that would instruct all provincial entities to refuse to enforce or prosecute matters under the federal gun buyback program.

Smith made the comments on Nov. 29 during a keynote address at her United Conservative Party’s annual convention, where she outlined her government’s priorities and next steps. She said the proposed motion would apply to all provincial entities, including municipalities and law-enforcement agencies, and would include provisions to prevent them from prosecuting Albertans “defending their homes and families from intruders.”

“We want our great men and women in law enforcement and our justice system to spend their precious time and effort going after criminals, not farmers, not ranchers or sport shooters, nor Albertans defending their families and their homes,” Smith said.

The federal buyback program aims to remove more than 2,500 firearms models, which the government classifies as “assault-style” firearms, from owners across the country. Federal Public Safety Minister Gary Anandasangaree has said the types of guns the government is banning will help limit “the devastating effects of firearms violence.”

“These assault-style firearms are largely designed to kill people, not for hunting or sport shooting and have no place in Canada,” the minister said in a Sept. 23 press release announcing the rollout of the program, beginning with a pilot in Nova Scotia.

Public Safety Canada has said participation in the program is voluntary, but those who don’t participate will still have to dispose of or permanently deactivate their firearms by the end of the amnesty period—now extended to Oct. 30, 2026—or face potential criminal liability for illegal possession of a prohibited firearm.

Smith has criticized Ottawa’s firearms ban, saying it targets law-abiding citizens rather than criminals. Last year, she introduced amendments to the Alberta Bill of Rights she said would reinforce Albertans’ right to legally acquire and use firearms.

Anandasangaree said earlier this week that the Liberal government’s gun buyback program would soon be launched across Canada, following the pilot project in Nova Scotia.

The motion the Alberta government will introduce next week under the Alberta Sovereignty Act will also ensure Albertans can “legally defend their homes and families from home intruders,” the premier said in a Nov. 29 announcement posted later in the day.

Smith previously expressed support for self-defence in cases of home invasion, after an Ontario man earlier this year was charged after allegedly injuring a home intruder.

“I got a little tip for low-life criminals out there,” Smith said during her Nov. 29 address. “If you don’t want to get shot, don’t break into someone’s house.”

The Alberta Sovereignty Act is a piece of legislation brought in by Smith shortly after becoming UCP leader and premier in October 2022. Under the Act, the province can reject federal laws or policies it deems unconstitutional or harmful to Alberta.

Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre has also spoken in favour of self-defence in cases of home invasion, saying on social media on Aug. 21 that “if someone breaks in, you deserve the right to defend your loved ones and your property - full stop.”

The Carney government has pledged to tighten bail laws for repeat offenders and for crimes such as home invasions and car thefts. Last month, it introduced Bill C-14, the Bail and Sentencing Reform Act, “to make bail laws stricter and sentencing laws tougher for repeat and violent offending.” The measures were part of the Liberal’s campaign platform earlier this year.

Bill C-14 passed second reading in the House of Commons on Nov. 18.