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The Quebec government has proposed new legislation to permit disclosures of personal information to individuals who believe their intimate partner or ex-partner may pose a risk to their safety or that of their child.
“I want to make sure the same services will be provided across the whole province,” said the bill’s author, vice-premier Ian Lafrenière, in an interview with The Eastern Door.
Lafrenière, who is also minister of Indigenous affairs and Public Security, emphasized that a wall-to-wall approach is needed to address intimate partner violence in the province.
“There’s a consensus. People are willing, they’re ready for that,” he said. “That’s the reason why we’re doing that bill now.”
Bill 4 was inspired by Gabie Renaud, a Quebec woman who was allegedly killed last year by her partner, Jonathan Blanchet, in St. Jerome. Blanchet had an extensive history of domestic violence that included several convictions and dozens of arrests, and many instances of allegedly violating his probation conditions, according to Radio-Canada.
This legislation would create a system that would enable individuals with concerns about their partner or ex-partner’s history to consult police services about that person’s history when it comes to domestic violence, and any other pertinent information, such as conditions of a release or probation order.
Similar disclosure laws exist in other jurisdictions, including in some provinces; the concept is known as “Clare’s Law.”
Quebec Native Women (QNW) put out a press release supportive of the bill’s goals but called on the government to include First Nations voices, noting that Indigenous women are disproportionately affected by violence in the province.
“Indigenous women have once again been excluded from the drafting of a bill addressing issues that we are, in fact, experiencing firsthand,” Marjolaine Étienne, president of QNW said in the press release.
The organization said it is not too late to ensure Indigenous women are fully incorporated in the process.
Étienne was unavailable for an interview for this article, however a public relations officer working with QNW confirmed the press release still reflects the position of the organization.
Lafrenière said the reason for the lack of consultation is that no group has yet been consulted on the bill, which he said was written in a compressed timeframe, and is only now entering the consultation phase. Indigenous groups and advocates will be included, he said.
“We’re doing it the right way,” he said.
Those who consult the system that will be created will be offered support and referrals to appropriate resources, according to a press release announcing the bill.
Lafrenière envisions that when an Indigenous person uses the service, the SQ and police partners will compile the information to be disclosed, which would be shared with an organization chosen for its capacity for cultural safety and sensitivity, with more details to be hammered out during the bill’s consultation phase to ensure the legislation will address Indigenous-specific needs.
Lafrenière emphasized that disclosure is only one piece of the puzzle.
“I don’t want people to feel a false sense of security,” he said. “Let’s say they haven’t found anything about your intimate partner, it doesn’t mean everything.”
However, this is a positive step forward, he said.
The government has said the system would complement other measures already in place, including specialized domestic and sexual violence units within police forces, electronic monitoring bracelets, rapid intervention units, emergency financial assistance, support services, and the creation of a specialized court.
So far this year, 10 women in Quebec have been victims of homicide in the context of domestic violence, according to a press release announcing the bill.
marcus@easterndoor.com
Marcus Bankuti, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
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