Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I want to focus on a difficult issue of seeking equity on parental custody arrangements to serve the best interests of children and parents caught up in divorce.
Data shows that when it comes time to determine custody arrangements in divorce, children are most often put in the exclusive custody of the mother. Statistics Canada indicates this is so in 80 percent of cases, with fathers at 7 percent of cases and shared custody in only 13 percent.
Our family courts make custody determinations on the basis of individual circumstances. The first priority must be to set conditions in the best interest of children. There is a growing voice in our society pointing out that our 13 percent rate of shared custody and a 7 percent rate of exclusive custody by fathers could indicate a built-in bias. As a role of fathers as equivalent parents and caregivers evolves in our society, we need to ensure this new reality is reflected in family court decisions.
Family health and early childhood research shows that children prosper and develop best when they have the advantage of the blended parenting of a mother and a father. Equity in custody arrangements allows both parents to forge deep bonds with their children. It promotes gender equality in parenting of children and recognizes both parents as significant contributors to a child’s development.
Setting custody conditions providing a meaningful role to both parents can contribute to reductions of disputes, and child financial support arrangements are most often performed when access to both parents is assured.
This government has taken progressive steps to use the trauma of divorce by instituting pre-divorce counselling programs and parental educational alternative dispute resolution services. Parenting coordination and counselling services are essential supports to minimizing the impact of divorce on children and ensuring an ongoing role for fathers as well as mothers. It should be expanded.
Research shows that the best parent for the child is both parents. When that’s no longer possible in a home, we need to ensure that the additional efforts to meet the best interests of the children include every possible measure to share parenting equitably.
Children don’t do divorce, parents do. Let’s examine our attitudes and ensure both parents have a full opportunity to raise a healthy child under creating arrangements. Mahsi.
Thank you, Mr. Bromley. The Member for Range Lake, Mr. Dolynny.
