Not in the Best Interests of Women and Children - An Analysis of Bill 422: An Act to Amend the Divorce Act

On June 16, 2009, Saskatoon-Wanuskawin Conservative Party MP Maurice Vellacott introduced Bill C-422 to the House of Commons. This Bill is the latest incarnation of a series of Bills, Motions and other legal and political maneouvrings that have attempted to eliminate the concepts of custody and access from the federal Divorce Act in favour of a presumption in favour of equal parenting.

Mr. Vellacott’s Bill may appear laudable to the general public, especially on a first read -- after all, who does not like the notion of children spending time with both parents?

However, on closer examination, it becomes clear that Bill C-422 at best ignores and at worst denies many of the realities of families in this country. For this reason, the National Association of Women and the Law and many other women’s equality-seeking organizations oppose Bill C-422 just as we have opposed similar Bills and Motions in the past.

The complete brief is available here.