I can see that there is opposition to this amendment, but I was really pleased when I saw that you had proposed to move this measure, Mr. McKinnon.
The evidence here came—as many of my amendments did, by the way—from Luke's Place and the National Association of Women and the Law. While we want to see diversity and dispute resolution processes, we want to give parties a chance to sort things out and make informed choices. We need to pay attention to situations in which alternative dispute resolutions processes provide abusers with ongoing contact with the spouse who has been abused. The additional language here is just as a reminder. It doesn't cut off that option.
It is just a reminder that:
To the extent that it is appropriate to do so, especially with regard to the risks that ongoing contact between the parties may pose in cases of family violence,
It continues on page 10, that the parties:
shall try to resolve the matters that may be the subject of an order under this Act through a family dispute resolution process.
It just is a reminder that this may not be appropriate in all cases.