moved for leave to introduce Bill C-304, an act to amend the Divorce Act (joint custody).
Mr. Speaker, I appreciate my colleague from Crowfoot seconding this bill this morning.
I note that I have introduced this bill a couple of times in the past.
The purpose of the bill is to ensure the courts grant custody of a child to both parents unless there exists evidence that to do so would not be in the best interests of the child. Automatic joint custody could reduce the number of parents forced to go to court to gain access to their children, increase the likelihood of support payment compliance and reduce the likelihood of one parent denying the other's right to see the children. Statistics from the U.S. indicate financial compliance increases in direct relation to access.
The recent report of the Special Joint Committee on Child Custody and Access recommended that joint parenting be included in new legislation. However, the justice minister has announced there would be no new legislation from her before 2001. Children simply cannot wait that long.
I would hope that members from all parties would support this important bill for the sake of the children.
(Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time and printed)