Owners of banned firearms in Canada now have a deadline.

The federal government has launched a national compensation program giving gun owners until March 31, 2026 to declare whether they’ll turn in or permanently deactivate their firearms. Small business owners across British Columbia are sounding the alarm over what they describe as a shoplifting crisis that’s hurting their bottom lines and their peace of mind. Earlier this month, a woman wrote a letter to The Chilliwack Progress after her daughter nearly died following the birth of her first child. A sudden complication led to catastrophic bleeding — and the nurses and medical team at Chilliwack General Hospital saved her life. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices