The gun registry test of federalism

Paul Daly, Ottawa Citizen, "The gun registry test of federalism", October 8, 2014

In recent years, the Supreme Court of Canada has emphasized time and again the importance of cooperative federalism. Given the complexity of the modern world, the federal government and the provinces must often work hand-in-hand to solve difficult social, cultural and economic problems. It is no surprise that the Court has recently ruled against various forms of federal unilateralism in areas where collaboration would have been appropriate – on securities regulation, Senate reform and judicial appointments.

On Wednesday, it hears a case concerning the abolition of data collected in the long-gun registry. Although the case pits only one province, Quebec, against the federal government, its resolution will have serious repercussions for the future of federal-provincial cooperation.

This content has been updated on April 23, 2015 at 10:34.