ATLANTIC CANADA ADVISORY COUNCILS on the Status of Women held a joint press conference in Halifax on Thursday to respond to the release of the federal report on custody and access.
All Councils agreed that the shared parenting concept central to the report is unworkable. "Most divorces and custody arrangements are worked out amicably; only about five per cent of divorce cases result in drawn-out custody battles," explained Patricia Doyle-Bedwell, chair of the Nova Scotia Advisory Council. "The report recommends shared parenting plans in these cases. How is that possible in a high-conflict relationship?"
The Advisory Councils stated that the federal Committee dismissed the prevalence of domestic violence in women's lives and in so many custody disputes. They also expressed concern about the Committee's call for "clear evidence" when accusations of abuse are made.
"Many allegations are reasonably founded and free of malice but may lack evidence that meets the criminal law standard," said Heidi Rankin, PEI Advisory Council. "Can we afford to wait for that before acting to protect our children or ourselves?"
The Advisory Councils said the Committee was "biased from the beginning against women and against women as their children's primary caregiver." They cited the tone of questioning, the dismissal of established research and the rude behaviour of Committee members during women's presentations.
"It's no wonder that so few women who've experienced high-conflict custody and access battles actually presented their stories to the Committee," said Patricia Gallagher-Jette, NB Advisory Council.
Joyce Hancock, president of the Advisory Council in Newfoundland and Labrador, expressed relief that criminalization of access denial and refusal to exercise access was not recommended as had been rumoured in the past few weeks. "It's a small blessing, thank goodness."
See "Joint Response of Atlantic Canada Advisory Councils on the Status of Women to For the Sake of the Children: Report of the Special Joint Committee on Child Custody And Access"
For more information, contact: Heidi Rankin, Acting Executive Director, PEI Advisory Council on the Status of Women, 902-368-4510, email peiacsw@isn.net