Colette Martin was brutally attacked by her ex-partner, who had a history of violence in past relationships. Martin was unaware of his previous violent behavior until his trial for assaulting her. She believes that if she had known about his past, she could have made different choices regarding their relationship.
New Brunswick passed a law three years ago to allow police to disclose a person’s history of intimate partner violence, similar to the British Clare’s Law. However, the law has not been implemented yet due to pending regulations. Martin views this delay as a missed opportunity to save lives, emphasizing the urgency of rolling out the law promptly.
The legislation specifies that regulations will determine who can access information on past violence, what details can be revealed, and how the information will be protected. Despite the province’s ongoing work on the regulations, there is no specific timeline for completion provided. Miramichi East MLA Michelle Conroy, who named the law “Colette’s law” after Martin, expressed frustration at the prolonged delay, citing the unanimous recognition of intimate partner violence as an epidemic.
Conroy emphasized the need for immediate action, pointing out that other provinces like Saskatchewan and Alberta have already implemented similar laws. She stressed that the law aims not only to prevent harm but also to reduce the trauma experienced by victims of intimate partner violence. A recent report highlighted New Brunswick’s high rate of domestic homicides, adding urgency to the implementation of protective measures like Colette’s law.
Myrna Dawson, the report author and a professor at the University of Guelph, raised concerns about the prolonged delay in implementing the law. She questioned how many lives could have been saved and how many individuals could have been spared from violence during the years of inaction. Dawson emphasized the importance of addressing intimate partner violence promptly and not delaying protective measures.