Members of the Canadian Parliament are pushing for the criminalization of coercive control to address intimate partner violence. The House committee on the status of women issued a report recommending that the government continue supporting efforts to make coercive control a criminal offense. Conservative MP Marilyn Gladu, the committee’s chair, expressed the desire to see coercive control criminalized and mentioned bipartisan support for the initiative from Liberal, Conservative, and Bloc Québécois members.
The report highlighted that the Supreme Court of Canada recognizes coercive and controlling behavior as a form of family violence. Countries like England, Scotland, Wales, Ireland, and Australia have already criminalized coercive behavior. Although a private member’s bill proposing the criminalization of coercive control was adopted in the House and considered in the Senate last year, it lapsed when Parliament was dissolved.
The committee stressed that criminalizing coercive control would require training for law enforcement and the justice system, public education, and additional support services for victims to be effective. Gladu emphasized the importance of ensuring that the law is implemented effectively by law enforcement and the judiciary.
While witnesses supported the criminalization of coercive control, the committee acknowledged challenges faced by other jurisdictions, such as difficulties in obtaining convictions. Coercive control involves a pattern of ongoing acts over time, making it challenging for victims to seek assistance through the criminal justice system. The committee cautioned that criminalization alone would not solve the issue of domestic abuse.
Gladu mentioned that unlike other countries that define coercive control by listing specific behaviors, the committee did not propose a similar approach for Canada. She highlighted the need for flexibility in defining coercive control due to the evolving nature of abusive behaviors.
If you are experiencing immediate danger or fear for your safety, call 911. For those affected by family or intimate partner violence, crisis lines and local support services are available for assistance.