Sask. RCMP now allowed to participate in Clare’s Law due to regulatory changes

Amendments to the RCMP’s governing legislation will now allow RCMP in Saskatchewan to participate in the domestic violence disclosure protocol known as Clare’s Law, alongside municipal police. “We have been working persistently towards this day for over 10 months, to ensure the people in the communities we police in Saskatchewan are able to exercise their right to ask and participate in Clare’s Law,” said C/Supt. Alfredo Bangloy, Acting Commanding Officer for the Saskatchewan RCMP. “In order to participate in Clare’s Law, changes were required to federal regulations, which we have worked diligently to obtain. We’re committed to continuing to support those facing violence in relationships, intimate partner violence and gender-based violence.”

Formally titled the Interpersonal Violence Disclosure Protocol Act, Clare’s Law allows police to share information about an intimate partner’s past violent or abusive behaviour with residents who may be at risk of domestic abuse.

The act came into effect in June of 2020, and Saskatchewan RCMP indicated that while they had a part in developing the legislation, privacy laws surrounding information disclosure would prevent them from participating at that time.

The federal government and the RCMP, in consultation with the Office of the Privacy Commissioner, began working to ensure

that RCMP would be able to participate in Clare’s Law while still respecting obligations to the federal Privacy Act. Working with Public Safety Canada, new sections have been added to RCMP Regulations 2014 allowing for Saskatchewan RCMP to participate in Clare’s Law. Saskatchewan RCMP is now taking Clare’s Law applications at detachments in the province. Applications can be made on a right-to-ask or right-to-know model and will be considered on a case-by-case basis by a committee. Saskatchewan was the first province in Canada to implement Clare’s Law legislation, and the Saskatchewan RCMP is now the first division to begin participating in the protocol.

Saskatchewan RCMP are now able to accept information disclosure applications under Clare’s Law legislation at local detachments in the province. (photo by Larissa Kurz)