Divorce reforms delayed despite expected surge of post-pandemic marriage breakups in Canada – By Joan Bryden (The Canadian Press) / June 10 2020
The reforms will, for the first time, provide a comprehensive definition of family violence and require courts to take into account instances of abuse
OTTAWA — The federal government has delayed implementing reforms to Canada’s Divorce Act just as family law experts are bracing for a surge of women seeking divorces after being cooped up for months with abusive partners during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The reforms were to go into effect on July 1 but Justice Minister David Lametti announced late last week that implementation has been postponed until next March.
Among other things, the highly anticipated reforms will, for the first time, provide a comprehensive definition of family violence and require the courts to take into account any instances of abuse when making decisions about parenting.
The Justice Department should have taken into account the potential harm
Pamela Cross, legal director for Luke’s Place, a support centre in Oshawa, Ont., for women leaving abusive relationships, said the delay is another example of government policy decisions failing to take into account the pandemic’s disproportionate impact on women.
“Danger as a result of women being forced to shelter at home with their abusers has gone up,” which the government only belatedly recognized by providing increased funding for shelters, Cross said.
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