MP Maurice Vellacott to select equal parenting motion for House of Commons debate
For Immediate Release May 30, 2008
OTTAWA – Next week, Conservative MP Maurice Vellacott (Saskatoon-Wanuskewin) plans to select his equal parenting motion, M-483, for debate in the House of Commons. On Wednesday June 4, up to 15 additional items of Private Members’ Business will be added to the Parliamentary schedule for debate. Vellacott is one of the 15 Members of Parliament who will be able to select an item for debate.
M-483 reads as follows: “That, in the opinion of the House, the government should propose amendments to the Divorce Act so that law and practice ensure due process protection of rights and equality of parents, and to ensure that children benefit from equal parenting from both their mother and their father, after separation or divorce.”
Vellacott tabled this motion on April 11 and the supportive response from concerned fathers and many other fair-minded Canadians has been overwhelming. “These Canadian parents from across the country have been contacting me and contacting many other Members of Parliament to let them know how important this motion is,” said Vellacott.
This motion, if it passes, will not change the law in Canada, but it will reflect the will of Parliament to fix the way the current system handles custody and access among parents in broken homes. “It is a pro-child motion that works to rectify the current inequities for the sake of the children,” said Vellacott.
So far seven MPs have made a public statement in support of this initiative by having their names listed as “Seconders” of the motion. These MPs are Carol Skelton from Saskatchewan, Tom Wappel and Patrick Brown from Ontario, Leon Benoit and Art Hanger from Alberta and Russ Hiebert and John Cummins from B.C.
With the summer recess upon us, this motion won’t come up for debate in the House until the fall. “I urge all Canadians who support my reasonable proposal in M-483 to contact their Members of Parliament over the summer, urging them to support this motion. And continue to spread the word and build support,” concluded Vellacott.
A simple way for 13 more MPs to express their public support for this motion is to have their names added to the list of “Seconders.” Urge your supportive MP to do this. Remind them that all they have to do is sign a letter addressed to the Journals Branch of the House of Commons at 140 North, Centre Block, which states: “Please put my name down as Jointly Seconding Motion M-483.”
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For further comment, call (613) 992-1966 or 297-2249
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