Presume equal shared parenting
Petitioners ask the House of Commons to amend the Divorce Act to establish a rebuttable presumption of equal shared parenting—joint decision-making and equal or maximized practicable parenting time—except where safety concerns make it inappropriate.
Why we would sign this petition
- Petitioners cite research that equal or near-equal parenting time improves children's physical, emotional, social and academic outcomes, so the change would promote child well‑being.
- A rebuttable presumption preserves judicial discretion by allowing exceptions for abuse, neglect or other safety concerns while setting a clear default.
- Petitioners cite polling that 70%+ of Canadians support such a presumption, so the amendment would reflect broad public preference.
Why we wouldn’t sign this petition
- A presumption of equal time could be impractical for many families (distance, work, special needs) and impose unsuitable schedules on children.
- Rebutting the presumption may increase court disputes and evidentiary battles, raising costs and conflict despite claims of reduced litigation.
- Determining safety exceptions can be complex; there is a risk abuse or neglect might be missed or that proving risks burdens vulnerable caregivers.
The summary and both sets of reasons are AI-generated from the petition and given equal weight. Claims are the petitioners’ own; consult the official record for the full text.
Official petition
Petition to the House of Commons Extensive and consistent social science research shows that children of separated or divorced parents experience significantly better physical, emotional, social, and academic outcomes when they spend equal or near-equal time with both parents, barring safety concerns; Many countries with strong equal shared parenting legislation report improved child and family outcomes, including reductions in parental conflict, litigation, and domestic violence; In Canada, public opinion polling since 2007 has consistently shown that 70% or more Canadians—across all genders, regions, and political affiliations—support legislation that establishes a presumption of equal shared parenting in child custody matters; and A rebuttable presumption of equal shared parenting allows for judicial discretion and ensures that exceptions can be made where it is not in the best interests of the child due to abuse, neglect, or other safety concerns; We, the undersigned, citizens and residents of Canada, call upon the House of Commons to amend the Divorce Act to establish a rebuttable presumption of equal shared parenting—defined as joint decision-making responsibility and equal or maximized practicable parenting time—is in the best interests of the child, except where evidence demonstrates that such an arrangement would not be appropriate due to concerns for the child’s safety or well-being.
Government response
No government response is available yet.