QUEBEC CITY: The Quebec government has introduced landmark legislation designed to empower individuals to assess their safety within intimate relationships. Tabled on Wednesday, Bill 4—formally known as the Act respecting the communication of information for the purposes of protecting against intimate partner violence—would allow citizens to request the conjugal violence history of a current or former partner if they fear for their own safety or that of their children. The bill has been widely dubbed the “Gabie Renaud Law” in memory of a Saint-Jérôme woman allegedly killed by her partner last year, a man who had a documented history of dozens of arrests and multiple convictions related to domestic abuse.
The proposed law aims to provide a much more comprehensive safety net than a standard criminal record check. Under the new framework, police would compile a detailed file on an individual’s history of violence and share it with local women’s advocacy groups. These organizations would then be responsible for delivering the information to the person who made the request, while simultaneously providing professional support and resources. This model draws inspiration from “Clare’s Law” in the United Kingdom, as well as similar legislative frameworks already established in Saskatchewan and Manitoba.
While the bill received broad support across the National Assembly, opposition parties have voiced concerns that information alone cannot solve the crisis. Critics, including Québec Solidaire co-spokesperson Ruba Ghazal, argued that the legislation must be accompanied by significant financial investment in women’s shelters and support services. With Quebec recording 10 suspected femicides since the beginning of 2026, advocates emphasize that while transparency is a vital tool, the province must also address the systemic lack of resources available to those attempting to flee dangerous domestic situations.
