June 20th, 2012 by Robert Franklin, Esq.
Our good friend to the north, Paulette MacDonald sends us the below on behalf of her organization, the Canadian Equal Parenting Council. It’s a nationwide organization dedicated to the proposition that all parents are created equal and the kids need both of them. Here’s what she said in a letter to the London Free Press and to us.
Why Canada’s “Status Quo”, has to go!
Every year, thousands of innocent children of divorce are bullied into rejecting one of their parents, typically by the custodial parent which in Canada is mom in almost 90% of divorce cases and these children are forced to choose to love and be loyal to; just that one parent. If the non-custodial parent, typically the father wants to be an active part of his children’s life after divorce or separation he is in for the fight of his life because this bullying parenting behaviour, known as parental alienation which is recognised as a devastating form of emotional and mental Child Abuse, with long lasting, devastating consequences; clearly demonstrates that parent is not capable of putting the children’s needs before their own malicious, implacable , controlling needs.
And furthermore; Canada’s profoundly broken family law system facilitates such devastating parenting behaviour in order to maintain the “Status Quo” sole custody model.
Our government needs to rectify this very serious, long-standing problem and amend the law to allow equal parenting during divorce when it can be demonstrated that it is in the best interest of the child.
In 2004 after many years of efforts, parent activists formed a national group that would support and organize those in Canada who believe that children have a right to meaningful contact and interaction with both parents when those parents do not live together. The Canadian Equal Parenting Council (CEPC), the result, is a national organization of equal parenting and divorce support groups across Canada.
The aim of our organization, and the movement it represents, is to secure the child’s rights to be equally parented when the relationship between the father and the mother breaks down. Parents may separate, divorce, or never have lived together – in any case, the children should be able to benefit from all that each parent, and each grandparent, has to offer. Our emphasis is on the right of the child to continue to enjoy contact, nurturing and support in its widest sense, from all parents and grandparents, regardless of gender.
If you agree that children need and deserve the love and protection of both parents then please, join us on facebooks and we will make you an active part of making Equal Parenting into Law.
Paulette MacDonald Co-president, Canadian Equal Parenting Council http://www.facebook.com/groups/213030365478779/246240952157720/#!/groups/equalparenting/
“Throughout history, it has been the inaction of those who could have acted; the indifference of those who should have known better; the silence of the voice of justice when it mattered most; that has made it possible for evil to triumph.”
~ Haile Selassie (July 23, 1892 – August 26, 1975)
Thank you, Paulette and keep up the good work.