At the December 16, 2021 meeting, Commissioner Healy provided the following notice of motion in accordance with Governance Policy No. 12.24:
“Please take notice that I will move the following motion on Thursday, January 13, 2022, at the regular public meeting of the Saskatoon Board of Police Commissioners:
'Whereas the Parliament of Canada is considering proposed Bill C247 which requests amendments to the Criminal Code of Canada, which would introduce the concept of Controlling and Coercive Conduct as part of Intimate Partner Violence/Domestic Violence response.
https://www.parl.ca/DocumentViewer/en/43-2/bill/C-247/first-reading
Whereas the Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police (CACP) resolved earlier this year to support the proposed Bill C247.
https://www.cacp.ca/resolution.html?asst_id=2747
Whereas CACP offered important concepts to strengthen the intent and scope of Bill C247, especially at CACP's Third and Fourth Whereas (above and quoted below).
"Bill C-247 amends the Criminal Code to create an offence of engaging in controlling or coercive conduct that has a significant impact on the person towards whom the conduct is directed, including fear of violence, a decline in their physical or mental health, and a substantial adverse effect on their day-to-day activities..."
"coercive control includes repetitive tactics of all forms of abuse (emotional, financial, physical, sexual, spiritual) to isolate, humiliate, intimidate, exploit, dominate, and cause fear to victims. It is repetitive and continuous with cumulative effects over time..."
Whereas in March of 2016 the CACP and The Canadian Observatory on the Criminal Justice's Response To Intimate Partner Violence stated strongly that Justices response needs to be multi-sectoral and focused on protecting and empowering the victims.
https://cacp.ca/index.html?asst_id=1200
Whereas these offences cause " ... a SUBSTANTIAL ADVERSE effect on their day-to-day activities..." CACP above (emphasis added). And that includes an increased fear for personal safety in public spaces including our downtown even though the actual danger is closer to home for many, especially women.
https://ca.vlex.com/vid/criminals-are-inside-of-557897878
Whereas Bill C247 speaks to s. 264.01 (see above), practically, Peace Bonds, s. 810 and in common law, have been a useful tool in these cases, providing frequently a more effective response.
https://www.justice.gc.ca/eng/cj-jp/victims-victimes/factsheets-fiches/peace-paix.html
Be it resolved that the Saskatoon Board of Police Commissioners support the intent of Bill C247 presently being considered by the Parliament of Canada,
That we ask that the CACP's insights as quoted above (the 3rd Whereas in this motion) be incorporated into the final version and that the Parliamentary Committee consider complementary changes to s. 810 (Peace Bonds).
That we send a letter of support and this petition to the private Member Of Parliament who is sponsoring this Bill, MP Garrison and to his Parliamentary committee, and to the Minister Of Justice, and to the 3 Saskatoon Members of Parliament, and to the CACP, and to the Canadian Association of Police Board Governance.'"
It was noted that Bill C-247 received First Reading in the House of Commons during the last session of parliament and was reintroduced as Bill C-202 in the current session.