Bill Detail
An Act to amend the Divorce Act
This enactment amends the Divorce Act to, among other things,
require legal advisers who undertake to act on a spouse’s behalf in a divorce proceeding to assess the risk of family violence and, if there is a risk, to take steps to implement an appropriate plan;
provide the means by which a court may more accurately assess the impact of coercive control on a parent-child relationship so as to ensure that children are protected from domestic violence after a separation or divorce;
Bill C-223, also known as the Keeping Children Safe Act, aims to improve safety for children and spouses during and after divorce proceedings. It requires legal advisers to assess and address the risk of family violence, and ensures courts can better understand how coercive control impacts parent-child relationships.
This bill also allows courts to directly gather information from children about their views and preferences, under specific conditions. It seeks to prevent harmful myths or stereotypes about family violence from influencing court decisions, such as the false belief that violence stops once a separation occurs.
Legislative Timeline
Votes
Yes / No Ratio
How each party voted
| Party | Position | Yes | No |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bloc | No | 0% | 100% |
| Conservative | No | 0% | 100% |
| Green | Yes | 100% | 0% |
| Liberal | Free vote | 0% | 0% |
| NDP | Yes | 100% | 0% |