Three-step enforcement for parenting time
Petitioners ask the Minister of Justice to amend the Criminal Code to add a three-step enforcement for parenting-time violations: first a warning, then a fine, and a third offence criminal charge under s.127 or s.430.
Why we would sign this petition
- Creates clear, escalating consequences so repeated interference with parenting time moves from warning to fines to criminal charges, increasing accountability for parents who deny court-ordered access.
- A three-step rule could deter manipulators who use court processes to block access, making it harder to rely on repeated noncompliance to control the other parent.
- It aims to protect children's relationships with both parents by giving courts a structured tool to enforce parenting-time orders and prioritize continuity of care.
Why we wouldn’t sign this petition
- Turning parenting-time breaches into criminal offences risks criminalizing family conflict and may be disproportionate to some breaches that need family, not criminal, remedies.
- Proving repeated interference, especially amid allegations of false ex parte statements, may be legally and factually complex and could burden courts and families.
- The approach could be misused or escalate disputes, and might be less effective than strengthening family-court enforcement, mediation, or child-focused supports.
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 Minister of Justice Manipulative parents undermine a child's relationship with the other via Exparte Court orders obtained by false, misleading and exaggerated statements under oath; Based on Petition e-4595, statistics show that up to 25% of parents nationwide engage in alienating behavior. Over 3.9 million children and 22 million adults have been harmed; Manipulators abuse the current system to control their targets by making it extremely hard for the children to see the other parent; 75% of the time that children would spend with their parents in their life is gone by the age of 12; Scandinavian research found a significantly higher number of attempted adult suicides for people who, in childhood, had lost a parent through parental separation or divorce. Indian Journal of Psychiatry: A child who was separated from his or her parent for a period of three months or longer while between the ages of 6 months to 5 years old, suffered a 2.5 to 5 times higher risk of conduct disorder, emotional disorders and hysteria than a child that did not go through the same period of separation We, the undersigned, residents and citizens of Canada, call upon the Minister of Justice to amend the Criminal Code by including a "Three-Step Enforcement" for Parenting Time violations, which involves a warning for a first offense, a fine for a second and a charge of Disobedience of a Court Order (Section 127) or Mischief (Section 430) under the Criminal Code for a third, to hold parents accountable for repeated interference with parenting time and safeguard the child’s right to maintain a relationship with both parents.
Government response
No government response is available yet.