Long guns displayed at a gun show in Quebec in January 2016. The Quebec government wants to create a registry for such guns saying it will cost about $17-20 million, and then about $5 million a year to maintain.

Long guns displayed at a gun show in Quebec in January 2016. The Quebec government wants to create a registry for such guns saying it will cost about $17-20 million to set up, and then about $5 million a year to maintain. Advocates say it provides the public with extra security, opponents say it will do no such thing but merely targets legal owners as scapegoats for problems elsewhere in society, adding criminals don't register firearms.
Photo Credit: CBC

Quebec aboriginals oppose provincial gun registry

A vast northern area of the central province of Quebec extends into Arctic-like conditions. This enormous area of over 440, 000 sq km, is called Nunavik  (Great Land) in the local Inuit language.  Of the semi-autonomous region’s 12,000 inhabitants, about 90 percent are Inuit.

On the heels of the federal government scrapping its long gun registry  (LGR) for rifles and shotguns as wasteful and of little use in fighting crime, the Quebec government engaged in a legal battle to save data on Quebec gun owners. Losing in a decision by the Supreme Court, the Quebec government in late 2015 tabled a bill (Bill64) to create its own registry.

Quebec hunters, collectors, and sport shooters have been vehemently opposed. They say the government claims of increased security for the public through such a registry is based on opinion only, and run counter to actual facts and statistics.. This was the opinion of the Ontario Superior Court as well when it rejected an injunction to stop the federal scrapping of the LGR saying the arguments presented, the same as now used for Quebec, could either not be proved, or were inconsistent with statistics.

Gun owners add that an LGR will cause hardship and problems for otherwise law-abiding owners, seriously reduce the value of their property (guns), and do nothing to stop crime

Now the Inuit of the province, say they should be exempt from any such registry.

The northern part of the province of Quebec above the 55th parallel is known as Nunavik, a semi self governing region.
The northern part of the province of Quebec above the 55th parallel (orange) is known as Nunavik, a semi self governing region. © Makivik Corp

At a provincial hearing into the proposed law, representatives said they are as concerned as the Quebec government over safety and security but noted, “Inuit hunters cannot be over burdened by bureaucratic measures that may penalize the exercise of their right to harvest under the James Bay and Northern Québec Agreement.”

They point out that Inuit have a culture of sharing, including hunting equipment, such as long guns. They also say that under the land claims agreement, the Inuit have a right to harvest wildlife using all equipment reasonable to exercise the right, which includes firearms.

Feb 27, 2016:Patrick Rochon was one of dozens of protesters who gathered outside the office of the Quebec minister of justice in Maniwaki to oppose a proposed provincial long-gun registry. During public consultation into the propsed bill, Quebec Liberal Minister of security labelle those peacefully opposed to the registry as *anarchistes*
Feb 27, 2016:Patrick Rochon was one of dozens of protesters who gathered outside the office of the Quebec minister of justice in Maniwaki to oppose a proposed provincial long-gun registry. They say the millions it would cost should be spent on mental health care. During public consultation into the propsed bill, Quebec Liberal Minister of security labelle those peacefully opposed to the registry as *anarchistes* © CBC

Representatives from the Makivik Corporation which is the legal representative for the region’s Inuit also noted the forms for registration would not be in Inuktitut, the language spoken by the almost the totality of residents.

The Quebec Inuit are not alone in their opposition. The Quebec Cree and Assembly of First Nations also say the proposed law would infringe on their rights for many of the same arguments.

The Quebec Premier, Philippe Couillard says he will whip the vote on Bill 64. Public Security Minister Martin Coiteux (shown here) has labelled gun owners opposed to the bill as *anarchistes*.
The Quebec Premier, Philippe Couillard says he will whip the vote on Bill 64. Public Security Minister Martin Coiteux (shown here) has labelled gun owners opposed to the bill as *anarchistes*. © Jacques Boissinot via CBC

They say they should be allowed to set up their own registry, or registries.

There are about 1.6 million legally owned firearms in the province, most of them long guns.  The majority Liberal government says it will whip the vote, i.e., oblige all its members to vote for the bill. If passed owners would have 12 months to register their firearms, and get a permanent ID number affixed.  Failure to do so could lead to fines up to $5,000.

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