Thank you, Madam Chair.
I would like to thank our four witnesses for being here.
This study is troubling, as I see at every meeting we hold on the subject. Current events regularly remind us how important our study on coercive control is.
Why, last May, had there already been more femicides in 2024 than in the whole of 2023, in Quebec?
The first femicide took place in the region I represent as MP. On August 31, I offered my condolences to the family at a golf tournament. The family had been offered a golf tournament to benefit the Maison Alice-Desmarais, located in the riding of Shefford, more precisely in Granby. The Maison Alice-Desmarais helps women who are victims of violence. It was very moving to meet the family of the victim, this young woman from my riding who was killed.
Next Friday evening, at the invitation of the Maison Alice-Desmarais, but, above all, of women's groups, I will be taking part in a march. It's 2024 and we're still obliged to hold activities like this to highlight the fact that women are being killed and that there's still far too much violence against women.
I'll stop here, but I could talk about this for a very long time. I have many questions for the witnesses.
Ms. Jeshani, in your opening remarks, you mentioned that we need to recognize coercive control. Where does that start? What exactly do you mean by “recognize coercive control”? Are you aiming for recognition on the criminal side, so that the system includes more tools for intervention?