Evidence of meeting #95 for Justice and Human Rights in the 44th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was control.
A recording is available from Parliament.
10:05 a.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Lena Metlege Diab
We'll go to Mr. Garrison for the final round.
Again, witnesses, I will remind you that if there's anything you would like to submit to us in writing that you feel would be beneficial, please do.
Go ahead, Mr. Garrison.
10:05 a.m.
NDP
Randall Garrison NDP Esquimalt—Saanich—Sooke, BC
Thank you very much, Madam Chair.
I think the committee knows well that I was involved in this at the beginning of the pandemic when I was doing my regular call around to social service agencies and the police. They all reported a spike in calls for assistance at the beginning of the pandemic.
Ms. Silverstone, you may be best placed to talk about this. There seems to be a presumption that this spike would have gone away with the decline of pandemic restrictions. I want to know what your organization has found. Has this spike disappeared, or have the high rates continued?
10:05 a.m.
Chief Executive Officer, Sagesse Domestic Violence Prevention Society
The spike has not disappeared at all. We know that pretty much across Canada, rates of domestic abuse went up by about 30% during the pandemic, and the rates have not gone down. We also know from past incidents like this, past crises in society—for example, the wildfires in Alberta—that when the numbers go up, they actually don't go down, and if they do go down, it takes 10 to 15 years.
I suspect that because COVID was a whole-of-society issue, we're not going to see the numbers go down again. We are in an epidemic of domestic abuse in Canada right now.
10:05 a.m.
NDP
10:05 a.m.
Prof. Carmen Gill
During the pandemic, I spoke a lot about coercive control in the media, so I had a number of calls from victims. IPV did not decrease because of the end of the pandemic. It pretty much increased.
10:05 a.m.
NDP
Randall Garrison NDP Esquimalt—Saanich—Sooke, BC
Okay.
I know we're just about out of time in this session and I'm out of my time, so I'm going to give about 30 seconds to each of you to bring up any last remarks that you'd like to make to the committee at this point.
I'll start with Ms. Silverstone.
10:05 a.m.
Chief Executive Officer, Sagesse Domestic Violence Prevention Society
I'll begin by saying that no law is perfect. All this law would be is another tool in the tool box of the justice system in Canada to address issues of domestic abuse in our society.
I think it is imperative that we pass a law like this as soon as possible. I believe that training can happen at the same time that the law is being passed, and I think police and the justice system are already asking for this. They mostly don't need to be trained about coercive control. They might just need to be trained on how to use a law like this.
We are overdue. We are behind other jurisdictions that have gender-based violence plans. I think victims in Canada deserve this piece of legislation.
10:05 a.m.
NDP
10:05 a.m.
Prof. Carmen Gill
I will echo what Andrea just said, but I want to remind you about the change of legislation in 1983 for sexual assault. We went from rape to sexual assault. That particular legislation completely changed our way of viewing sexual violence. I think legislation like this bill could have the potential to change our way of viewing the complexity of intimate partner violence.
I want to leave you with this note because I clearly remember all of the debate about the rape law versus sexual assault. We're doing better with the sexual assault law than we were before. It's the same thing with coercive control.
10:05 a.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Lena Metlege Diab
Thank you very much to both of you. We appreciate all of the knowledge and wisdom you've shared with us this morning.
Members of the committee, I will remind you that tomorrow is the deadline for you to submit the names of witnesses you would like to appear on this study. On Monday, the clerk will submit to all of you the names that have been submitted by everyone.
I will also remind you that next week is a constituency week. We will return the following week on Monday and Thursday. There are two more days on this study.
With those few words, have a wonderful day. Happy Flag Day.
My thanks to all of you.
The meeting is adjourned.
