OTTAWA — Quebecers are alone in wanting to save the long-gun registry, a new poll suggests.
Outside the province, most Canadians aren’t convinced the registry has done much to reduce gun crime and appear content to abolish it.
The survey by The Canadian Press Harris-Decima was conducted Nov. 5-8, just after the House of Commons gave approval in principle to a private member’s bill aimed at killing the controversial registry.
The bill, sponsored by a Conservative MP with the wholehearted endorsement of the Harper minority government, passed its first hurdle with help from 12 New Democrats, eight Liberals and one Independent.
The Bloc Quebecois voted unanimously against abolition and the survey results help explain why.
In Quebec, a majority of respondents — 56 per cent — said they’re opposed to abolishing the registry. And 50 per cent said they believed the registry has helped reduce gun crime.
Outside Quebec, it was a different story.
Majorities in Atlantic Canada (50 per cent), British Columbia (51 per cent), Alberta (64 per cent) and Manitoba-Saskatchewan (61 per cent) said it’s a good idea to get rid of the registry.
Ontarians were split on the issue, with 42 per cent favouring abolition and 40 per cent opposed.
Almost 61 per cent of Canadians outside Quebec said they believed the gun registry had made no difference in reducing gun crimes.
“Outside of Quebec, there doesn’t seem to be very much of a force that would say, ’Please don’t abolish this gun registry’,” said Doug Anderson, Harris-Decima senior vice-president.