Should the long-gun registry data be destroyed?

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.



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