Nova Scotia Takes Part in Supreme Court Challenge

Nova Scotia is participating in a challenge to the federal Firearms Act now before the Supreme Court of Canada.

Over the next two days, the province will join with Alberta, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Northwest Territories, Yukon, Nunavut, New Brunswick and Ontario in arguing that federal regulations relating to the registration of ordinary firearms are unconstitutional.

The province was granted intervenor status after an application was filed last August. The challenge is in keeping with the government's commitment to Nova Scotians.

The province will argue the federal government cannot enact a sweeping, generalized regulatory scheme relating to property and civil rights in the province. Essentially, the province will argue the registration scheme is an invasion of provincial jurisdiction over property and civil rights.

"We strongly oppose the registration component of this legislation," said Justice Minister Michael Baker. "Reducing the criminal use of firearms will not be achieved through this process. It simply punishes responsible gun owners, and we must take a stand against that approach."