The Supreme Court of Canada has agreed to hear Quebec's appeal to prevent the destruction of the federal long-gun registry data.

Ottawa dismantled the registry and its data on 5.6 million rifles and shotguns last year, despite pleas from Quebec.

This is the province's last chance to preserve the records for an estimated 1.6 million firearms, which it hopes to use to create its own version of the federal registry.

In June, the Quebec Court of Appeal said it would not force the federal government to preserve the information.

At the time, Quebec Employment and Social Solidarity Minister Agnès Maltais said she was disappointed with the ruling, saying the federal government had a "lack of comprehension of the Quebec situation."

As is usual, the justices did not give a reason for their decision.

The appeal will now be scheduled to go before at least five justices, whose decision will have the ultimate say in whether the registry data will be preserved.