The federal government is still considering making coercive control a criminal offense, according to Canada’s justice minister in a recent letter, describing gender-based violence as an “epidemic” that needs urgent action.
In his recent letter to Ontario’s chief coroner, Arif Virani detailed the Liberal government’s response to recommendations from an inquest into the 2015 murders of three women in rural Renfrew County, located about 180 kilometres west of Ottawa.
Carol Culleton, Nathalie Warmerdam and Anastasia Kuzyk were tragically killed that September by Basil Borutski, who had a history of violent behavior towards women.
Borutski had been released from prison the year before the murders and had prior relationships with at least two of his victims.
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From left: Anastasia Kuzyk, Nathalie Warmerdam and Carol Culleton were murdered in and around Renfrew County west of Ottawa on Sept. 22, 2015. (Photo illustration/CBC)
During last summer’s coroner’s inquest into their deaths, it was revealed that one woman had been trying to find out where Borutski was after his release, despite him being classified as a high-risk offender while incarcerated.
The inquest led to more than 80 recommendations aimed at various government levels to help prevent similar killings.
One suggestion urged Ottawa to introduce a new offense within the Criminal Code focused on coercive control-behavior experts say abusers use to dominate their partners.
Virani’s letter highlighted the government’s commitment following a parliamentary report from 2021 that looked into possibly criminalizing controlling behavior, stating that the Liberals are still “open” to establishing such an offense.
“Gender-based violence, including intimate-partner violence, is unacceptable and has no place in our country,” he wrote in a letter dated Monday.
“The government of Canada is committed to ending the (gender-based violence) epidemic in all its forms and is working to address any gaps in the Criminal Code to ensure a robust justice system response.”
Virani also mentioned that the government plans to observe how classifying coercive control as a crime works out in other areas like Scotland.
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Women’s advocates gather at a memorial site in Petawawa, Ont., after a 2022 coroner’s inquest in nearby Pembroke focused on gender-based violence. (Guy Quenneville/CBC)
Statistics from federal reports dating back to 2018 reveal that 44 percent of women who’ve been involved with partners reported experiencing some type of abuse during those relationships.
An existing provision under Canada’s Divorce Act states courts must consider family violence-including “coercive and controlling behaviour”-when deciding contact orders regarding children involved.
A further recommendation coming out of last summer’s inquiry asked for federal efforts toward finding alternative methods for domestic violence survivors when testifying in court.
Another suggestion called upon Ottawa to look into adding “femicide” to the Criminal Code.
“I note that while there is no single agreed-upon definition of ‘femicide’ nationally or internationally, it generally refers to the killing of women mainly by men because they are female,” Virani noted in his letter.
“I agree with both the United Nations and the Canadian Femicide Observatory for Justice and Accountability when they emphasize femicide as the most extreme form of violence against women and girls.”
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Behaviors ranging from harassment to isolation
Experts both in Canada and globally define coercive control as behaviors ranging from harassment and intimidation through isolating individuals from family or social networks-methods used by abusers for maintaining control over their victims. Many experts believe these tactics can lead up to physical violence. Researchers and law enforcement have recognized for some time that there are often early warning signs before incidents of intimate partner violence escalate. Certain high-profile cases involving homicides or murder-suicides have shown that many people suspected victims were at risk prior to these tragic events occurring.A further recommendation coming out of last summer’s inquiry asked for federal efforts toward finding alternative methods for domestic violence survivors when testifying in court.
Another suggestion called upon Ottawa to look into adding “femicide” to the Criminal Code.
“I note that while there is no single agreed-upon definition of ‘femicide’ nationally or internationally, it generally refers to the killing of women mainly by men because they are female,” Virani noted in his letter.
“I agree with both the United Nations and the Canadian Femicide Observatory for Justice and Accountability when they emphasize femicide as the most extreme form of violence against women and girls.”
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