The Saskatchewan legislative assembly passed new firearms legislation today that aims to put roadblocks in place when Ottawa starts a program to buy back banned guns.

The legislation passed unanimously in assembly, receiving support from Saskatchewan Party government and Opposition NDP members.

The bill requires RCMP, policing bodies or other agents to receive a licence from the province should they participate in the buyback program.

Officers don’t need a licence to take a firearm, if it’s part of their regular policing duties.

Saskatchewan is also to require municipal forces to seek approval from the provincial public safety minister if they want to accept federal funding to participate in the program.

The federal program would require owners of guns that are now banned, such as the AR-15, to either sell them to the government, have them rendered inoperable at federal expense or lawfully dispose of them.