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QUEBEC – Bill 64, which requires the registration of long guns, was adopted on Thursday at the National Assembly, on the eve of the adjournment of the current parliamentary session.

Since its filing, last December, the bill to provide Quebec with a firearms registry did not have unanimous approval among the population, particularly in rural areas where there are many hunters.

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The bill passed with 99 votes in favour and eight against. There were no abstentions.

About a third of the Coalition Avenir Québec (CAQ) caucus, seven MNAs, voted against the bill, as well as Sylvie Roy, a former CAQ member from Arthabaska, who became an independent.

Premier Philippe Couillard imposed party discipline on his MNAs in order to pass the bill, but not the CAQ; their caucus was divided on the issue. Some Liberals and members of the PQ had reservations, but all rallied in the end, passing the bill.

In a statement, the Parti Québécois said it was proud to have contributed to the adoption of Bill 64.