As a result, Ottawa has been forbidden, for the time being, to destroy documents in the long-gun registry.
The judge said he acted because Vic Toews, the federal minister of public safety, had said Thursday morning that the government would begin destroying the registry as soon as new legislation enabling it to do so took effect, something that was imminent.
The decision, by means of a temporary injunction, was announced shortly before 1 p.m. Thursday.
Quebec government lawyer Éric Dufour said the granting of scuh an injunction is unprecedented in Canadian law, as it is the first time a court has stopped a government from enacting a law.
This temporary injunction is in force until Friday, April 13, when lawyers for the Quebec government are to present arguments that the federal government should turn over the data to Quebec so the province can establish its own registry.
The judge had indicated earlier that he would rule only on whether to grant a temporary injunction.
He advised Quebec lawyers to seek a new judge to make further arguments for a permanent injunction.
Heidi Rathjen, a longtime gun-registry advocate, said the judgment is "excellent news" and will help protect the lives of Quebecers.
She said the federal government has acted "vindictively and ideologically" in ending the long-gun registry, and by doing so is risking the lives of Canadians.
Original Article
Source: montreal gazette
Author: William Marsden
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