Montreal

Quebec's new long-gun registry comes into effect Jan. 29

The province began plans to establish its own long gun log after the federal Conservatives abolished the database for non-restricted guns, known as the long-gun registry, in 2012.

Registration will be available online, free of charge

The new registry will be free of charge and accessible online as of Jan. 29, 2018. (The Canadian Press)

The province's new long-gun registry will go into effect Jan. 29, on the one-year anniversary of the Quebec City mosque shooting.

The service will be accessible online and users will be be able to register for free.

The province started working to create its own long-gun registry after the long-gun registry was dismantled by the federal government in 2012.

The accompanying legislation, Bill 64, was adopted by the National Assembly in June 2016 with cross-party support.

MNAs voted 99 to eight in favour of replacing the long-gun registry despite stiff opposition from Quebec's gun lobby.

Delays in launching registry

Soon after, the process was stalled by an attempt to block the creation of the new registry.

The National Firearms Association and a Quebec-based pro-gun lobby group argued in court the province infringed on federal jurisdiction when it passed its long-gun registry law in June 2016.

Pro-gun lobby groups organized protests once Quebec announced its intention to create its own registry. (Antoni Nerestant/CBC)

In October, a Quebec Superior Court Justice rejected the bid to stop the registry.

In his judgment, Quebec Superior Court Justice Lukasz Granosik ruled that the Quebec law is essentially about public safety — which is related to provincial jurisdiction on issues of property and civil law as well as the administration of justice.

With files from Radio-Canada

now