Check out the Canadian Coalition for Firearms Rights. They link to good content for the ban and are the ones that organized the latest injunction.
https://firearmrights.ca/en/home/
Here's a link to the latest version of the banned firearm list...
We're dealing with the same shit up here in Canada. They banned anything they consider an assault style weapon but don't have a formal definition 😥
We've got a case going to the supreme Court as it is against our charter of rights and freedoms.
I shop for value, like you I usually don't have a budget but don't like paying for little benefit. With regards to scopes, I cheaper out and got a Vortex Viper 82HD and was frustrated by the clarity when I couldnt really see my target holes at 300yrds. Should have dropped an extra and got a mid...