Bill 4: Indigenous Organizations Call for a Co-Developed Mechanism that is Truly Safe and Adapted to the Realities of First Nations and Inuit Women and Girls

Press Release

Wendake, June 4, 2026 – Quebec Native Women (QNW) and the Quebec Association of First Nations and Inuit Police Directors (QAFNIPD), with the support of the First Nations of Quebec and Labrador Health and Social Services Commission (FNQLHSSC) and the Assembly of First Nations Quebec-Labrador (AFNQL), support the principle of Bill 4, An Act respecting the communication of information for the purpose of protecting against intimate partner violence, and amending various legislative provisions, while calling for significant adaptations to ensure that the mechanism genuinely protects First Nations and Inuit women and girls, regardless of where they live.

QNW, QAFNIPD, the FNQLHSSC and the AFNQL appeared today before the parliamentary committee studying the bill, under the leadership of the QNW delegation. The organizations are calling on the government to use the provisions set out in section 34 of the bill to allow for a gradual rollout of the mechanism within First Nations and Inuit communities. Such an approach should be implemented through meaningful consultations and a co-development process aimed at creating the adaptations required through a nation-to-nation partnership with the concerned First Nations and Inuit women’s organizations, including the signatories of the brief entitled Brief on Proposed Amendments to Bill 4: Toward a Safe, Culturally Adapted Disclosure Mechanism Co-Developed with First Nations and Inuit, Indigenous Shelters and Front-Line Organizations.

A Necessary but Incomplete Law

In its current form, Bill 4 does not sufficiently take into account the historical, cultural, geographic, legal, institutional and community realities experienced by First Nations and Inuit women and girls.

The organizations reiterate that the objective of the bill is legitimate: to allow for the disclosure of information when an intimate partner poses a risk to the safety of a person or their child. However, without substantial adaptations and without mechanisms developed in collaboration with the affected Indigenous communities and organizations, the bill will not achieve its objectives for First Nations and Inuit women and girls, who remain among those most exposed to violence.

Key Concerns and Recommendations from Indigenous Organizations

The organizations raised several concerns that should be considered during the review of the bill, including the centralization of the mechanism within the Sûreté du Québec; the absence of a mandatory cultural safety requirement; the gap between the operational responsibilities assigned to Indigenous police services and the guarantees currently provided; issues related to Indigenous data governance; challenges in remote and northern communities; digital barriers and the underreporting of violence; as well as confidentiality risks within communities.

The organizations recommend, among other things, the establishment of a permanent co-development mechanism with First Nations and Inuit communities and women’s organizations; the integration of a legal obligation regarding cultural safety; the joint designation of First Nations and Inuit women’s organizations, both in communities and in urban settings, to support individuals and communicate information; the implementation of adapted information-sharing protocols and adequate resources for Indigenous police services; the adaptation of the mechanism to the geographic and digital realities of communities; the collection and governance of disaggregated Indigenous information and data; the co-development of implementation regulations; linguistic accessibility and assistance in submitting requests; and the development of a culturally adapted and multilingual public awareness campaign.

Unacceptable Exclusion of Indigenous Women

QNW reminds decision-makers that the exclusion of Indigenous women’s organizations from the development of Bill 4 is unacceptable. This omission runs counter to Quebec’s commitments regarding reconciliation, cultural safety and the implementation of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) and General Recommendation No. 39 on the Rights of Indigenous Women and Girls. It also reproduces dynamics previously denounced by The National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls (MMIWG) and the Viens Commission.

A Commitment to Collaboration

QNW reiterates the willingness of the signatory organizations to work with the Government of Quebec and involve First Nations and Inuit organizations to ensure that Bill 4 becomes an effective tool for First Nations and Inuit. The organizations welcome the commitment expressed during the parliamentary proceedings to continue discussions and develop the implementation framework of the mechanism in partnership with the concerned Indigenous organizations.

Statements from the Organizations

QNW: “In the absence of prior consultation before the introduction of the bill, QNW took the initiative to bring together a delegation to gather the concerns and recommendations of key Indigenous organizations and to include front-line perspectives, particularly those of Indigenous shelters. Our joint brief is the result of rigorous work rooted in lived realities. It reflects an informed collective voice grounded in real needs and is essential to any legislative reform aimed at effectively protecting our women and girls,” said Marjolaine Étienne, President of Quebec Native Women.

QAFNIPD: “The bill creates a real operational responsibility for Indigenous police services, particularly when it requires information to be transmitted to the Sûreté du Québec as quickly as possible. This responsibility may be legitimate, but it must also be realistic. Many services operate with varying levels of access to information systems, different administrative and technical capacities, and resources that vary from one community to another. Before implementing the mechanism, clear protocols, appropriate tools, training and adequate resources must be put in place so that this obligation can be fulfilled quickly, safely and effectively for individuals at risk,” said Pierre Simard, Executive Director.

About Quebec Native Women

Quebec Native Women is a non-profit organization that has represented and defended the rights and interests of First Nations women and girls across Quebec for more than 50 years. View the MMIWG2S+ Mapping Project: MMIWG2S+ MAPPING PROJECT.

About Quebec Association of First Nations and Inuit Police Directors

The Quebec Association of First Nations and Inuit Police Directors represents 21 Indigenous police services across Quebec. Its mission is to ensure their voices are heard in decision-making forums, support the development of strong and culturally adapted police services, and promote a fundamental principle: Indigenous police services are pillars of public safety within the communities they serve.

Read the brief: Documents Tabled – National Assembly

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Contact for information and interview requests:
Meghane Thibodeau
Media Relations
(514) 963-5061 | m.thibodeau@seize03.ca

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