When Clinton Duquette's name was called in Regina provincial court on Monday, he did not rise. In fact, he was not in court at all, which is not uncommon in the early stages of cases where an accused person is represented by a lawyer.
Defence lawyer Jessica Bihun addressed Judge Carol Snell on behalf of her client, a constable with the Regina Police Service (RPS). Duquette stands charged with an offence under the Local Authority Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (LAFOIP). It is not a criminal charge.
He is charged under a section that makes it an offence for an employee of a local authority, such as RPS, to wilfully access or use, or direct another person to access or use, personal information they do not need for legitimate work purposes.
Bihun told the judge she and her client are awaiting disclosure. Disclosure is information or material relevant to a charge that is in the Crown's possession. An accused person is generally entitled to view disclosure before deciding how to proceed.
Background of the Case
Duquette was the subject of a December 2025 report from Saskatchewan's Information and Privacy Commissioner (IPC), which outlined how the officer inappropriately accessed the personal information of six citizens of the City of Regina 67 times. According to information offered by RPS and the IPC report, the snooping occurred over multiple years dating back to 2021.
Affected individuals included a former partner of the police officer, the former partner's sibling, the former partner's previous partner, and other individuals, according to the IPC report. This information came to light through an investigation conducted by the RPS, which informed the IPC. RPS later referred the matter to the province's attorney general following a recommendation by the IPC.
The city police brought a charge against Duquette under LAFOIP after the attorney general consented to prosecution, according to an RPS news release.
Disciplinary Actions and Potential Penalties
Duquette initially received a one-day unpaid suspension. He also had to participate in mandatory training and is still subject to ongoing random audits. Should Duquette be convicted, LAFOIP states he could be liable for a fine of up to $50,000, imprisonment for up to a year, or both.
A woman who attended court on Monday later told media she was among those whose information was improperly accessed by Duquette. A group of people attended alongside her in apparent support.
Duquette's matter was adjourned to a date in July.
