Provincial Court Challenge Puts Destruction of Records on Hold

Injunction means "status quo" for long gun registry in Quebec

PETERBOROUGH, ON, April 5, 2012 /PRNewswire/ - Bill C-19, the Act to Amend the Criminal Code and the Firearms Act, has received royal assent but is on hold in Quebec, pending the outcome of the court case brought forward by the Quebec government this week. The province is seeking to force the federal government to retain the records contained in the long gun registry, some of which it hopes to use to populate a new provincial long gun registry.

In addition, the Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters (OFAH) has been given to understand that in the province of Quebec alone, all aspects of Bill C-19, which includes firearms registration, are on hold until the court matter is resolved.

"While we are satisfied that the Harper government has delivered on its promise to scrap the long gun registry, we are shocked and profoundly disappointed that a provincial court can overrule what the people of Canada have voted upon through the parliamentary process," said Angelo Lombardo, OFAH Executive Director.

Lawyers for the Quebec government and the federal government will meet again before a Quebec court judge next week to plead their case for and against a permanent injunction preventing the destruction of the registry records. Until such time as that judge renders a verdict, the federal government will not be able to proceed with the destruction of any data within the long gun registry and firearms owners in Quebec will need to comply with the current system.

The OFAH has long fought for the end of the long gun registry, which has never been proven to prevent violent crime.

With over 100,000 members, subscribers and supporters, and 675 member clubs, the OFAH is the province's largest nonprofit, fish and wildlife conservation-based organization, and the VOICE of anglers and hunters. For more information, visit www.ofah.org or follow the OFAH on Facebook and Twitter.

SOURCE Ontario Federation of Anglers & Hunters