Presumption of Equal Shared Parenting After Divorce

WE, THE UNDERSIGNED, citizens of Canada, draw the attention of the House of Commons in Parliament assembled to the following:

THAT WHEREAS the vast majority of studies on the issue have found overwhelming empirical evidence showing that children develop better, are healthier, and perform better across a range of social indicators when they enjoy an equal shared parenting arrangement with their parents after divorce or separation, and,

WHEREAS children are being harmed through the Canadian family court system, which tends to increase conflict between parents while resulting in a massive transfer of wealth away from children and their parents, and is obviously not working in the best interests of children, and,

WHEREAS the Federal Government of Canada could terminate much family agony by legislating a presumption of equal shared parenting after divorce or separation,

WHEREAS the vast majority of the public supports legislation which requires a presumption of equal shared parenting arrangements of children after divorce for those parents with no proven criminal abuse towards their children, and the Federal Special Joint Committee on Child Custody and Access supported equal shared parenting in its 1998 Report titled For The Sake Of The Children,

THEREFORE, your petitioners request the House of Commons in Parliament assembled to revise the Divorce Act and enact legislation which requires a rebuttable presumption of equal shared parenting for children after divorce or separation, and that adequate judicial training and accountability be implemented to ensure compliance with the legislation and the will of Parliament.