As Paul notes, a Quebec Superior Court judge says the Harper government must transfer long-gun registry data to the government of Quebec.
As Paul notes, a Quebec Superior Court judge says the Harper government must transfer long-gun registry data to the government of Quebec.
Vic Toews is displeased.
I am disappointed with today’s ruling and will thoroughly review the decision. The will of Parliament and Canadians has been clear. We do not want any form of a wasteful and ineffective long-gun registry. The NDP has consistently said that if given the chance they would try and use this data to target law-abiding hunters, farmers and sport shooters. Our Conservative Government will continue to fight against any measures that needlessly target law-abiding hunters, farmers and sport shooters.
Via Twitter, the Public Safety Minister says the “will of Canadians and Parliament must be respected.”
The NDP is decidedly more enthused about the court’s decision.
“Experts have sided with us, the police have sided with us and now it’s the Superior Court’s turn,” said New Democrat Justice critic Françoise Boivin. “Stephen Harper has to understand he cannot act alone.”
Today’s court decision shows how the Conservative government has failed in its responsibility to protect public safety and ignored thoughtful proposals from the NDP to allow provinces to keep the data, if they wish. “The Conservatives have a decision to make: either respect the Court’s decision, or waste taxpayers’ money appealing this through the courts,” added Boivin. “New Democrats believe these records are an important public safety tool. Conservatives must stop politicizing this issue and start putting public safety first.”