June 11, 2012 - 11:46 AM
MONTREAL - The Quebec government is in court today seeking province-sensitive information from the now defunct federal long-gun registry.
The law to destroy the registry came into effect in April everywhere else in Canada, but in Quebec, the long-gun registry has continued to function under court order.
Quebec lawyers have succeeded twice in having the registry continue to function, meaning long-guns have continued to be registered.
Quebec lawyers are arguing that the information provided from Quebec should be handed over to the province, since it contributed to the federal registry and wants to keep it alive.
The last safeguard order signed off on by a Quebec judge in April preserving the registry is set to expire this week.
This week's hearing is the next step in a case that is very likely to end up before the Supreme Court of Canada. Ottawa is opposed to relinquishing control of any part of the registry, which it is determined to destroy.
The bill to end the federal long-gun registry, C-19, received royal assent on April 5, fulfilling a longstanding promise by the Harper government.
Quebec is the only jurisdiction that has sought information from the registry. The movement to create the registry was inspired by the Montreal massacre in 1989.
News from © The Canadian Press, 2012