Iqaluit (May 29/06) - Ottawa's national long gun registry may be dying a slow death, but Inuit representatives aren't shedding any tears over its drawn-out demise.

"I'm not surprised about it. I didn't think it was going to work," said Andre Tautu, president of the Aqigiq hunters and trappers organization in Chesterfield Inlet.

The Long-Gun registry: enacted in 1995 by the government of Jean Chretien and forecasted to cost $2 million by May 2000 costs had ballooned to $327 million by March 2005 costs reached $946 million this month, the new Conservative government introduced changes to the Firearms Act, effectively gutting the registry, but stopping short of repealing it the Canadian Firearms Centre, located in Mirimachi, New Brunswick, employs 200 people there are seven million registered long guns in Canada of 549 murders in 2003, two were committed with registered long guns -- source: Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness Canada

The rules also make it difficult for younger hunters, including his 21-year-old son, to buy ammunition, Tautu said.

"Inuit shouldn't have any problems (from firearms regulations), because we only use them for hunting," he said.

Earlier this month, public safety minister Stockwell Day announced changes to the federal gun registry that would effectively gut the program.

The government announced a one-year amnesty for long gun owners and will waive licence fees. In addition, the government will refund some fees to owners who have already paid. The program's budget has also been slashed by $10 million.

"Our new government simply will not continue to fund ineffective programs," Day said. "Instead, we will invest our resources to better protect Canadian families and their communities by putting more police officers on the streets and in their communities."

During last winter's election campaign, the Conservatives ran on a promise to scrap the registry altogether. But outnumbered in Parliament by three opposition parties who support the registry, the Conservatives have backed away from that pledge.

In Ottawa, Nunavut MP Nancy Karetak-Lindell said she's asked Day for more information before deciding whether to support legislation to close down the registry.

"I always need to see the details before I can comment on how it affects (Nunavummiut)," she said.

"I will support any measures that make it easier for people in the North to comply."

In 2003, Nunavut Tunngavik Inc. won a stay of application of the gun registry in Nunavut.

Justice RG Kilpatrick ruled the registry interfered with Inuit hunting rights and culture, as outlined in the Nunavut Land Claims Agreement.

"The alleged infringement of a treaty right may cause collateral damage to important Inuit interests," Kilpatrick wrote in his decision. "The potential for damage is both significant and immediate."

NTI first vice-president James Eetoolook said the organization wants to get an exception that would allow Inuit to buy guns and ammunition without a firearms licence.

And with costs for the registry now topping $1 billion, Eetoolook wonders if the federal government couldn't have spent the money better.

"They would have spent that money more wisely building houses," he said. "Hopefully the whole thing will (be scrapped) eventually."

Karetak-Lindell said one person who won't miss the registry is her staffer in Arviat, who bought a camera specifically to take the identification pictures needed for gun licences and often must help constituents fill out the requisite paperwork.

"She's done more forms than you can shake a stick at."