QUEBEC - Stephen Harper's government has slammed the door on Quebec's request to let it keep data from the doomed federal long-gun registry.

The answer comes after two provincial cabinet ministers made a formal appeal this week in a letter to Ottawa.

Federal Industry Minister Christian Paradis says the Privacy Act forbids Ottawa from collecting personal data for one purpose and then transferring it to be used for another purpose.

Harper's Quebec lieutenant told The Canadian Press in an interview today the province is welcome to start its own gun registry from scratch.

Quebec has long been a vocal opponent of the federal government's attempts to kill the registry.

The province has said it wouldn't rule out the possibility of taking legal action if Ottawa turned down its request.