Cults, high-control groups, and coercive control for the week of July 20, 2026.

News and developments regarding cults, high-control groups, and coercive control for the week of July 20, 2026.

There are no major legislative movements on Canada's Bill C-16 this week; it remains under Senate review. However, we have several legal and procedural updates stemming from the groups we covered last week.

### Updates on Ongoing Investigations and Legal Actions

 * **Kingdom of Canada Fallout:** Following up on last week's story about the town of Richmound, Saskatchewan, evicting the "Kingdom of Canada" group, a trial date has now been set for Ricky Manz. Manz is the local property owner who allowed the self-proclaimed "Queen of Canada," Romana Didulo, and her followers to occupy an old school building for two years. He will stand trial beginning January 5 in Swift Current, facing charges stemming from a police raid on the compound last year.

 * **Apollo Quiboloy's Digital Reach:** Despite the active Philippine Senate probe and Quiboloy's status on the FBI's wanted list for human trafficking and abuse, his "Kingdom of Jesus Christ" network remains highly active online. The group hosted multiple broadcasts and livestreams as recently as July 19th, underscoring the ongoing challenge authorities face in shutting down the digital recruitment and fundraising arms of high-control groups even when their leaders are under indictment.

### Upcoming Events

 * **Victoria Inquiry Public Hearings:** The Parliament of Victoria’s inquiry into the impacts of cults and organized fringe groups is preparing for its next major public hearing on Thursday, July 23. The proceedings will be broadcast live. In preparation, the committee has published a new batch of redacted public submissions and formal responses from government departments regarding the ongoing demand for cult-exit support services.