‘Gabie Renaud’ bill passes in Quebec to protect women from domestic violence

Photos of Gabie Renaud on t-shirts. (Laurence Brisson Dubreuil/CTV News)

The “Gabie Renaud” bill, which aims to better protect women from domestic violence, passed the National Assembly on Thursday.

The new law will allow a woman who fears for her safety to obtain information regarding an intimate partner’s history of domestic violence.

The person at risk will need to fill out a form—online or at a police station—which will be reviewed by the Sûreté du Québec (SQ). Police officers will then conduct a search for information, and any details deemed relevant will be shared with the person.

Police officers will be able to provide any information they deem relevant, not just convictions related to domestic violence.

The idea for this law has been gaining traction since the death of Gabie Renaud last September, who was allegedly killed by her partner. He had a long history of domestic violence.

Her sister, Rachel Renaud, attended a press conference on Thursday at the National Assembly to mark the passage of the bill.

“My sister was taken from me. Nothing can change that reality, but today, her name becomes a law, and if this law saves even one life, if it helps even one woman recognize danger, if it allows a mother to return home safely to her children, then Gabie will continue to live on through each of the lives protected,” she said, with tears in her eyes.

The bill received support from all political parties. Domestic Security Minister Ian Lafrenière was keen to highlight the opposition’s cooperation.

“It gives me hope to see that we are capable of working together. We can achieve great things when we decide to join forces,” he said.

It was Québec solidaire (QS) that campaigned for the passage of such a law. The party’s parliamentary leader, Ruba Ghazal, welcomed its passage.

“Honestly, it’s not just because I asked for it that we’re here today and have passed this law. It’s thanks to Rachel, Nancy, and all the women—all the people who answered the call and said, ‘We want a Gabie Renaud law,’” she said.

The new legislation is inspired by the Clare Act, which was passed in England following the murder of Clare Wood by her ex-partner in 2009. He had a history of violence against women.

Several Canadian provinces have already passed this type of law, such as Saskatchewan and Manitoba.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published in French on June 11, 2026.