Coercive Control and Elder Abuse
Dementia Justice Canada is calling on federal lawmakers to criminalize coercive control beyond intimate partners to protect seniors who are abused by adult children and other people they trust and depend upon. The goal is to ensure that proposed legislation safeguards elder abuse victims and ensures those who harm them are held accountable.
To help advance this initiative, a coalition of elder justice advocates are coming together for a Legislative Action Day in Ottawa to engage with lawmakers and encourage legal protection against coercive control targeting older adults. You can contribute to this effort and help amplify the experiences of elder abuse victims by supporting the campaign here: GoFundMe.
To help advance this initiative, a coalition of elder justice advocates are coming together for a Legislative Action Day in Ottawa to engage with lawmakers and encourage legal protection against coercive control targeting older adults. You can contribute to this effort and help amplify the experiences of elder abuse victims by supporting the campaign here: GoFundMe.
Legislative Developments:
When the Governor General dissolved Parliament on March 23, 2025, this put an end to all government business, including private members' bills like Bill C-332, which would have made coercive control by intimate partners a standalone offence in the Criminal Code, punishable up to 10 years in prison for the most serious cases.
A new coercive control bill will have to start the legislative process from scratch.
On September 26, 2025, MP Dan Albas tabled a petition urging Parliament to criminalize coercive control by intimate partners through the reintroduction of former Bill C-332. The government has 45 days to respond to the petition.
When the Governor General dissolved Parliament on March 23, 2025, this put an end to all government business, including private members' bills like Bill C-332, which would have made coercive control by intimate partners a standalone offence in the Criminal Code, punishable up to 10 years in prison for the most serious cases.
A new coercive control bill will have to start the legislative process from scratch.
On September 26, 2025, MP Dan Albas tabled a petition urging Parliament to criminalize coercive control by intimate partners through the reintroduction of former Bill C-332. The government has 45 days to respond to the petition.
Documents:
Written submission to Senate Committee on Legal and Constitutional Affairs (January 4, 2025).
Letter to senators (August 18, 2024).
Further Reading:
Protect seniors to get coercive control offence right (The StarPhoenix, October 25, 2025).
Coercive control: what's next? (Substack, September 20, 2025).
A second chance to get it right on coercive control (The St. Croix Courier, May 14, 2025).
The political inconvenience of elder abuse victims (Substack, January 4, 2025).
Coercive control bill should tackle familial elder abuse (Law360 Canada, August 20, 2024).
It's time for Canada to criminalize coercive control by adult children (CNPEA blog, July 30, 2024).
Parliament should make coercive control of elders a standalone crime (Canadian Affairs, July 15, 2024).
Written submission to Senate Committee on Legal and Constitutional Affairs (January 4, 2025).
Letter to senators (August 18, 2024).
Further Reading:
Protect seniors to get coercive control offence right (The StarPhoenix, October 25, 2025).
Coercive control: what's next? (Substack, September 20, 2025).
A second chance to get it right on coercive control (The St. Croix Courier, May 14, 2025).
The political inconvenience of elder abuse victims (Substack, January 4, 2025).
Coercive control bill should tackle familial elder abuse (Law360 Canada, August 20, 2024).
It's time for Canada to criminalize coercive control by adult children (CNPEA blog, July 30, 2024).
Parliament should make coercive control of elders a standalone crime (Canadian Affairs, July 15, 2024).
