Thank you very much, Madam Chair.
I want to start by saying how fortunate I think we are to have Dr. Durrant and Dr. Butler here, who have extensive experience in both in research and advocacy on the topic that's before us today. I want to start with a question for both of you that's really begun to perplex me this morning as we have these questions.
This committee recently dealt with coercive controlling behaviour in intimate partner relationships. We are seeking to amend the Criminal Code to prohibit forms of violence additional to physical violence. We've dealt with questions of elder abuse and have sought to make sure that elders in care are not subject to violence.
My question is for both of you, and I'll start with Dr. Butler.
I don't understand why somehow we're having a debate today about how much violence against children is acceptable when we don't have that debate about anybody else in our society. Maybe I'm asking you an impossible question, but it's a frustrating question for me this morning.