Members of the Canadian Parliament are urging the country to make coercive control a criminal offense to address intimate partner violence effectively. The House committee on the status of women presented 16 recommendations, urging the government to push for the criminalization of coercive control in a report released on Tuesday.
During a news conference, Conservative MP Marilyn Gladu, the committee’s chair, expressed strong support for criminalizing coercive control. She mentioned that there is bipartisan backing from Liberal, Conservative, and Bloc Québécois members on the committee to advance this initiative.
The Supreme Court of Canada has acknowledged coercive and controlling behavior as a form of family violence, the report highlighted. Several countries, such as England, Scotland, Wales, Ireland, and Australia, have already criminalized coercive behavior in recent years.
Although a private member’s bill to criminalize coercive control was passed in the House and reviewed in the Senate last year, it lapsed when Parliament dissolved. The recent report emphasized that effective criminalization of coercive control would require training for law enforcement and the justice system, public awareness campaigns, and enhanced support services for victims.
Gladu emphasized the importance of ensuring that law enforcement and the judiciary are adequately trained to implement the law. The committee recognized that criminalizing coercive control poses challenges, including the complexity of identifying the pattern of behavior over time and the difficulties victims face in seeking help through the legal system.
While witnesses supported the criminalization of coercive control, the committee was informed of the challenges faced in other jurisdictions, such as securing convictions. It was noted that criminalization alone would not solve the issue of domestic abuse entirely.
In discussing the definition of coercive control, Gladu mentioned that unlike other countries that specify behaviors, the committee did not propose a detailed list for Canada. She highlighted the need for flexibility in defining coercive control due to the evolving nature of abusive behaviors.
For immediate assistance in cases of danger or intimate partner violence, individuals are advised to contact emergency services at 911. Support services and crisis hotlines are available for those affected by family or intimate partner violence.
