QUESTION PERIOD — Public Safety
Coercive Control
June 11, 2024
Senator Gold, femicides are on the rise in Quebec, where seven women were killed in the first four months of this year. In Canada, a woman is killed in an act of violence every six days. For years, women’s groups have been advocating for the criminalization of coercive control, which encompasses actions intended to intimidate, manipulate, humiliate or isolate the victim, actions that are often a precursor to physical violence. Bill C-332, which is being debated this very day in the House of Commons, would make coercive control a new criminal offence.
What is the government’s position on the notion of coercive control and on adding it to the Criminal Code?
Thank you for the question. I want to make it clear that coercive and controlling behaviour is manipulative and dangerous, and it puts lives at risk. Frankly, there is an epidemic of gender-based violence in Canada. More needs to be done to ensure women’s safety.
The short answer to your specific question is that yes, the government supports Bill C-332 with amendments.
I’m pleased to hear that.
Why hasn’t the government undertaken this work, since the issue has been discussed for years? In the United Kingdom, for example, where coercive control is now criminalized, there has been a 30% increase in requests for assistance and the conviction rate is rising. There is one concern, however. The Canadian Bar Association believes that the concept of coercive control is too vague. What do you think?
To answer your question more broadly, the government has taken a number of steps, including launching a federal strategy to bring together all federal partners in a whole‑of-government approach to end gender-based violence. This strategy is in addition to more than $600 million over five years to develop a national action plan.
