Canada

What “pattern” means here

Federal only. Bill C-16 (Protecting Victims Act) creates a Criminal Code offence prohibiting a pattern of coercive or controlling conduct toward an intimate partner. Royal Assent 18 June 2026. Justice Canada: the coercive-control provisions come into force no later than two years after Royal Assent to allow training. Enacted is not the same as in force. Separately, the Divorce Act already defines family violence to include coercive and controlling behaviour. That definition is family-law framing, not the criminal offence.

Statutes

• Protecting Victims Act (Bill C-16), Royal Assent 18 June 2026

  Federal criminal pattern offence of coercive or controlling conduct toward an intimate partner. Commencement of the coercive-control offence delayed up to two years after Royal Assent. Source: Justice Canada C-16 page; Parliament of Canada LEGISinfo C-16.

• Divorce Act, s. 2(1) (family violence definition)

  Includes coercive and controlling behaviour in the family-violence definition. Definitional / family law. Not a standalone criminal offence.

Expert standard

Canadian criminal and family courts. Not Daubert.

What Carlton Research can speak to

Carlton Research can speak to pattern analysis (coercive control breadth, depth, escalation, entrapment, and more). Research is built to the evidentiary rules of the jurisdiction that will hear it. Carlton Research does not recommend parenting time or custody. Research establishes whether a pattern of coercive control is present. Inquire about specific testimony requests or speaking engagements.

Federal frame only. No provincial rows are added without official statute sources. Do not treat Divorce Act definitional language as the C-16 criminal offence, and do not treat Royal Assent as commencement.