Should the long-gun registry data be destroyed?By Community Team
The Quebec government is expected to announce Tuesday that it plans to sue the federal government to force it to save data from the long-gun registry. The Conservatives have long called the long-gun registry a waste of taxpayers' money. (Sean Kilpatrick/Canadian Press) Robert Dutil, the province's public security minister is expected to reveal details of the legal suit while accompanied by police brass, police unions, victims' groups and crime experts.
Quebec is a solid supporter of the registry, which was created in 1995, and has
indicated that it is considering setting up its own registry if the federal one
is abolished.
Bloc Quebecois MP Maria Mourani has said it makes no sense to get rid of the data that's already been
collected and that it shows that Prime Minister Stephen Harper
doesn't value the opinion of Quebec.
The Liberals also support keeping
the registry information. "The data collected over the last 16 years must be
preserved, so that provinces can salvage this important policing tool," interim
leader Bob Rae said in a statement.
The decision to kill the registry has
been called into question by two officers of Parliament -- the watchdogs
responsible for both public information and for privacy.
Information
Commissioner Suzanne Legault says destroying the data would violate the letter
and spirit of the Library and Archives of Canada Act.
Privacy
Commissioner Jennifer Stoddart has urged caution in destroying the data and said
there is nothing in federal law that prevents the government from sharing it
with provincial counterparts.
Should the federal long-gun registry data
be destroyed when the registry is abolished? Should provinces have to the data
if they set up their own registries? Let us know what you think.
With files from the Canadian Press.
indicated that it is considering setting up its own registry if the federal one
is abolished.
Bloc Quebecois MP Maria Mourani has said it makes no sense to get rid of the data that's already been
collected and that it shows that Prime Minister Stephen Harper
doesn't value the opinion of Quebec.
The Liberals also support keeping
the registry information. "The data collected over the last 16 years must be
preserved, so that provinces can salvage this important policing tool," interim
leader Bob Rae said in a statement.
The decision to kill the registry has
been called into question by two officers of Parliament -- the watchdogs
responsible for both public information and for privacy.
Information
Commissioner Suzanne Legault says destroying the data would violate the letter
and spirit of the Library and Archives of Canada Act.
Privacy
Commissioner Jennifer Stoddart has urged caution in destroying the data and said
there is nothing in federal law that prevents the government from sharing it
with provincial counterparts.
Should the federal long-gun registry data
be destroyed when the registry is abolished? Should provinces have to the data
if they set up their own registries? Let us know what you think.
With files from the Canadian Press.
