The complex nuances of violence against women are poorly understood. Other forms of abuse such as psychological, financial and coercive control are often disregarded and seen as less serious.
In Fall 2020, MP Randall Garrison (NDP) introduced a private member’s Bill, C-247, to criminalize coercive control in Canada. The introduction of this bill followed in the footsteps of the UK parliament’s move in recent years to criminalize coercive control and domestic violence.
The Divorce Act states that in determining parenting arrangements for children, judges must take into account the impact of any family violence and give primary consideration to the child’s physical, emotional and psychological safety, security and well-being. Similar provisions can be found in many provincial and territorial statutes.
Ontario, Canada is the latest government to pass a strong anti coercive control legislation. This bill was specifically passed in the CLRA, Ontario’s Children’s Law Reform Act, and it offers guidance to the courts on how to handle survivors and will assess each case in the best interest of the child.
