Colette Martin, a resident of Baie-Sainte-Anne in northeastern New Brunswick, was horrifically attacked by her ex-partner, who stabbed her 37 times. Shockingly, this wasn’t the first time he had been violent towards a partner. Martin only discovered his history of violence during his trial for the attack on her. If she had known about his past, she believes she could have made different choices regarding their relationship.
Three years ago, New Brunswick passed a law allowing police to disclose a person’s history of intimate partner violence, inspired by a British law known as Clare’s Law. However, the implementation of this law has been delayed as the province has not finalized the necessary regulations.
Martin, a strong advocate for the law, sees the delay as a missed opportunity to save lives. She emphasized the urgency of implementing the law to prevent further tragedies. The legislation includes provisions for determining who can access the information, the type of information that can be disclosed, and how it will be protected.
Miramichi East MLA Michelle Conroy, who introduced the law, expressed pride in its unanimous passage in December 2022. She labeled it “Colette’s law” in honor of Martin’s advocacy. Conroy stressed the importance of acting swiftly to prevent harm and reduce the trauma associated with intimate partner violence.
Despite the progress made by other provinces in adopting similar laws, the delay in implementing Colette’s Law is concerning. A recent report highlighted New Brunswick’s high rate of domestic homicides, underscoring the pressing need for effective measures to address intimate partner violence.
Myrna Dawson, a professor at the University of Guelph, emphasized the urgency of implementing the law to prevent further tragedies. She questioned the consequences of the delay, highlighting the potential risks faced by women in abusive relationships.
The government’s statement indicated ongoing work on the regulations required for the law’s enforcement. However, stakeholders like Martin, Conroy, and Dawson are calling for immediate action to protect individuals at risk of intimate partner violence.
