Thanks, Madam Chair.
Thank you so much to the witnesses for being here today as we continue our study of coercive control.
For my first question, I'll go right to Ms. Ridley or Ms. Briscoe from the Salvation Army. One of the issues we have from a justice system perspective is that we don't actually have a definition, or a legal definition, of coercive control.
Based on your experience and the testimony you've provided today, you've brought up some very valid points. A lot of these survivors and people living in this right now don't actually know that they're in a coercive control relationship. Often, it's generational: That was the relationship that was shown to them as children. They think that is what is normal.
Often, you're dealing with highly manipulative people who tell you that you're good and who hang on to you, but then take that away from you. It's a difficult thing to describe to somebody if they've never dealt with it or experienced it.
My first question would be, how would you define coercive control? I can give you a reference that we have if you want it, but if you already have one, I'd love to hear it.