Not one person in my life would characterize me as being dishonest or having disordered thinking, except for the assessor and the reunification therapists.
I, again, asked to speak to a judge. We were told we could speak to the judge, but only after his trial decision was made. I found that very upsetting, given that we wanted the opportunity to tell the judge that my dad was lying to everyone throughout this process—to tell him what had actually happened in our lives.
My entire high school career and adolescence have been tainted by these experiences. My mom being accused of parental alienation silenced her. It also silenced my sibling and me. It stripped us of our rights and access to resources to help us.
Ignoring children's reports of abuse, disregarding children's wishes regarding parenting schedules, and forcing children into reunification therapy and camps abuse Canadian children and violate the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child.
I'm asking this committee to please protect the rights of young victims of coercive behaviour by creating legislation to ensure that a child's lawyer or an abuse-informed clinician is granted, in order to have their experiences and wishes directly presented to the court. In addition, please create legislation to ban parental alienation accusations in family courts and all forms of reunification therapy and camps. The well-being of Canadian children depends on it.
Thank you very much.