Coercive Control and Elder Abuse
ELDER JUSTICE COALITION
Dementia Justice Canada is part of the national coalition 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 the proposed legislation (Bill C-16) safeguards elder abuse victims and ensures those who harm them are held accountable.
Statement on Bill C-16
December 15, 2025
Press Release
November 12, 2025
Advocacy Day
February 4, 2026
Ottawa, ON
Dementia Justice Canada is part of the national coalition 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 the proposed legislation (Bill C-16) safeguards elder abuse victims and ensures those who harm them are held accountable.
Statement on Bill C-16
December 15, 2025
Press Release
November 12, 2025
Advocacy Day
February 4, 2026
Ottawa, ON
You can contribute to this advocacy effort and help amplify the experiences of elder abuse victims by supporting the campaign here: GoFundMe.
Participating Organizations
Advocacy Centre for the Elderly (ACE) is the first and oldest legal clinic in Canada with a specific mandate to provide a range of legal services to low-income older adults. Its legal services include individual and group client advice and representation, public legal education, community development and law reform activities.
Alberta Elder Abuse Awareness Council (AEAAC) is a province-wide network of professionals committed to addressing elder abuse and neglect. AEAAC supports prevention and intervention efforts by providing resources and education, and by strengthening Coordinated Community Response (CCR) teams across Alberta. Through these multidisciplinary teams and its Safe Spaces Initiative, AEAAC helps create safe, trusted environments where older adults feel valued and supported.
BC Association of Community Response Networks (BC CRN) is a provincial non-profit dedicated to fostering safe, inclusive communities where vulnerable adults are valued and protected. Through active coordination, advocacy, education, collaboration, and relationship building, it supports local community response networks to create awareness and prevention of adult abuse, neglect, and self-neglect.
Brainwell Institute is an independent think tank that elevates evidence to ignite change and revolutionize thinking about dementia and brain health.
Canadian Coalition for Seniors’ Mental Health serves as a leader in knowledge transfer and advocacy in the field. Rooted in the passion and expertise of its founders, the Coalition’s growing team remains committed to advancing evidence-based, comprehensive and compassionate care for older adults’ mental health. Through ongoing innovation and collaboration, the CCSMH strives to overcome barriers and ensure that every older adult receives the support they require. The CCSMH’s enduring legacy is one of compassion, understanding, and a relentless commitment to a brighter future for older adults across Canada.
CanAge is Canada’s national seniors’ advocacy organization, working to improve the lives of older adults through advocacy, policy, and community engagement.
Canadian Network for the Prevention of Elder Abuse (CNPEA) builds awareness, support and capacity for a coordinated pan-Canadian approach to the prevention of elder abuse and neglect. It promotes the rights of older adults through knowledge mobilization, collaboration, policy reform and education.
Dementia Justice Canada is a small non-profit dedicated to advocating for the rights and dignity of people with dementia. A particular focus is criminal justice reform.
Elder Abuse Prevention Ontario (EAPO) is a charitable, non-profit organization, recognized for its leadership in elder abuse prevention, providing awareness raising educational forums, training multi-sectoral front-line service professionals, and creating tools/resources for all to better understand and appropriately respond when supporting older adults at-risk or experiencing increasingly complex issues of elder abuse.
HelpAge Canada is the only registered Canadian charity and international NGO focused solely on partnering with communities to improve the lives of older people in Canada and around the world.
International Longevity Centre Canada (ILC-Canada) is human rights based organization focused on older persons, created in 2015 and situated in Ottawa, Ontario. Its mission is to propose ideas and guidance for policies addressing population aging based on international and domestic research and practice with a view to bettering the lives of Canadians. It does this through a human rights lens, through knowledge development and exchange, recommendations of evidence-based polices, social mobilization, and networking.
National Institute on Ageing (NIA) improves the lives of older adults and the systems that support them by convening stakeholders, conducting research, advancing policy solutions and practice innovations, sharing information and shifting attitudes. Its vision is a Canada where older adults feel valued, included, supported and better prepared to age with confidence.
Prevent Elder Abuse Manitoba (PEAM) is a provincial network dedicated to raising awareness, fostering collaboration, and promoting strategies to prevent the abuse and neglect of older adults across Manitoba.
Seniors First BC is a 31-year old charitable, non-profit society that promotes the dignity of older adults, free from abuse of any kind. It provides information, support, legal advocacy, and referrals to older adults across British Columbia with issues affecting their well-being, as well as those who care for them.
Yukon Council on Aging (YCOA) is an organization whose vision is that all Yukon seniors (55+) can flourish and thrive as they age, and age in place for as long as possible. Its services include a home and yard maintenance program; providing information and assistance in applying for Pioneer Utility Grants (home heating); wills and estate planning; presentations on dementia; and more.
Media & Articles
The equality flaw in Bill C-16
The St. Croix Courier
Heather Campbell Pope
January 10, 2026
Bill C-16 risks discrimination against elder abuse victims
Substack
Heather Campbell Pope
December 29, 2025
How does the absence of criminal code protections for vulnerable elderly people represent a significant gap in Bill C-16?
The Mike Smyth Show (CKNW)
Interview with Dr. Saskia Sivananthan
December 23, 2025
Vulnerable people in our society get legislation that protections them. But not this one very large group
The Toronto Star
Fay Martin
December 19, 2025
Bill C-16 must go further for older Canadians
Law360 Canada
Heather Campbell Pope
December 17, 2025
Elder Justice Coalition seeks new coercive control offence to protect seniors
Canadian Lawyer Magazine
Bernise Carolino
November 14, 2025
Protect seniors to get coercive control offence right
The StarPhoenix
Heather Campbell Pope
October 25, 2025
Advocacy Centre for the Elderly (ACE) is the first and oldest legal clinic in Canada with a specific mandate to provide a range of legal services to low-income older adults. Its legal services include individual and group client advice and representation, public legal education, community development and law reform activities.
Alberta Elder Abuse Awareness Council (AEAAC) is a province-wide network of professionals committed to addressing elder abuse and neglect. AEAAC supports prevention and intervention efforts by providing resources and education, and by strengthening Coordinated Community Response (CCR) teams across Alberta. Through these multidisciplinary teams and its Safe Spaces Initiative, AEAAC helps create safe, trusted environments where older adults feel valued and supported.
BC Association of Community Response Networks (BC CRN) is a provincial non-profit dedicated to fostering safe, inclusive communities where vulnerable adults are valued and protected. Through active coordination, advocacy, education, collaboration, and relationship building, it supports local community response networks to create awareness and prevention of adult abuse, neglect, and self-neglect.
Brainwell Institute is an independent think tank that elevates evidence to ignite change and revolutionize thinking about dementia and brain health.
Canadian Coalition for Seniors’ Mental Health serves as a leader in knowledge transfer and advocacy in the field. Rooted in the passion and expertise of its founders, the Coalition’s growing team remains committed to advancing evidence-based, comprehensive and compassionate care for older adults’ mental health. Through ongoing innovation and collaboration, the CCSMH strives to overcome barriers and ensure that every older adult receives the support they require. The CCSMH’s enduring legacy is one of compassion, understanding, and a relentless commitment to a brighter future for older adults across Canada.
CanAge is Canada’s national seniors’ advocacy organization, working to improve the lives of older adults through advocacy, policy, and community engagement.
Canadian Network for the Prevention of Elder Abuse (CNPEA) builds awareness, support and capacity for a coordinated pan-Canadian approach to the prevention of elder abuse and neglect. It promotes the rights of older adults through knowledge mobilization, collaboration, policy reform and education.
Dementia Justice Canada is a small non-profit dedicated to advocating for the rights and dignity of people with dementia. A particular focus is criminal justice reform.
Elder Abuse Prevention Ontario (EAPO) is a charitable, non-profit organization, recognized for its leadership in elder abuse prevention, providing awareness raising educational forums, training multi-sectoral front-line service professionals, and creating tools/resources for all to better understand and appropriately respond when supporting older adults at-risk or experiencing increasingly complex issues of elder abuse.
HelpAge Canada is the only registered Canadian charity and international NGO focused solely on partnering with communities to improve the lives of older people in Canada and around the world.
International Longevity Centre Canada (ILC-Canada) is human rights based organization focused on older persons, created in 2015 and situated in Ottawa, Ontario. Its mission is to propose ideas and guidance for policies addressing population aging based on international and domestic research and practice with a view to bettering the lives of Canadians. It does this through a human rights lens, through knowledge development and exchange, recommendations of evidence-based polices, social mobilization, and networking.
National Institute on Ageing (NIA) improves the lives of older adults and the systems that support them by convening stakeholders, conducting research, advancing policy solutions and practice innovations, sharing information and shifting attitudes. Its vision is a Canada where older adults feel valued, included, supported and better prepared to age with confidence.
Prevent Elder Abuse Manitoba (PEAM) is a provincial network dedicated to raising awareness, fostering collaboration, and promoting strategies to prevent the abuse and neglect of older adults across Manitoba.
Seniors First BC is a 31-year old charitable, non-profit society that promotes the dignity of older adults, free from abuse of any kind. It provides information, support, legal advocacy, and referrals to older adults across British Columbia with issues affecting their well-being, as well as those who care for them.
Yukon Council on Aging (YCOA) is an organization whose vision is that all Yukon seniors (55+) can flourish and thrive as they age, and age in place for as long as possible. Its services include a home and yard maintenance program; providing information and assistance in applying for Pioneer Utility Grants (home heating); wills and estate planning; presentations on dementia; and more.
Media & Articles
The equality flaw in Bill C-16
The St. Croix Courier
Heather Campbell Pope
January 10, 2026
Bill C-16 risks discrimination against elder abuse victims
Substack
Heather Campbell Pope
December 29, 2025
How does the absence of criminal code protections for vulnerable elderly people represent a significant gap in Bill C-16?
The Mike Smyth Show (CKNW)
Interview with Dr. Saskia Sivananthan
December 23, 2025
Vulnerable people in our society get legislation that protections them. But not this one very large group
The Toronto Star
Fay Martin
December 19, 2025
Bill C-16 must go further for older Canadians
Law360 Canada
Heather Campbell Pope
December 17, 2025
Elder Justice Coalition seeks new coercive control offence to protect seniors
Canadian Lawyer Magazine
Bernise Carolino
November 14, 2025
Protect seniors to get coercive control offence right
The StarPhoenix
Heather Campbell Pope
October 25, 2025
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.
On December 9, 2025, the Minister of Justice introduced Bill C-16, which proposes to create a new offence that prohibits engaging in a pattern of coercive or controlling conduct toward an intimate partner.
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.
On December 9, 2025, the Minister of Justice introduced Bill C-16, which proposes to create a new offence that prohibits engaging in a pattern of coercive or controlling conduct toward an intimate partner.
Background Materials:
Dementia Justice Canada
Written submission to Senate Committee on Legal and Constitutional Affairs (January 4, 2025).
Letter to senators (August 18, 2024).
Further Reading:
Articles by Heather Campbell Pope
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
Dementia Justice Canada
Written submission to Senate Committee on Legal and Constitutional Affairs (January 4, 2025).
Letter to senators (August 18, 2024).
Further Reading:
Articles by Heather Campbell Pope
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
