Jan. 31, 2019-Myths v. Facts #5
5. Myth: Equal parenting is not suitable in situations where the parents do not get along and cannot make decisions jointly.
Facts:
I. Overwhelming science exists supportive of the fact that equal parenting reduces conflict, obviously particularly where unbalanced parenting proposals are the primary source of the conflict, but generally as well.
II. Equal parenting allows for fewer transitions between houses and supports children’s adjustment after separation by maintaining two primary parent relationships. Children experience a loss from a family separation regardless of post-separation family structure. By maintaining two primary parents the loss is lessened.
III. Decision making on major topics such as health education and religion can be dealt with differently than the parenting time schedule. Therefore, conflict is irrelevant to the parenting time schedule. Parental coordination is a further answer to any issues over conflict. The British Columbia Provincial Legislation allows a Court to impose parental coordination. This should be an addition to the Divorce Act amendments.
Submission to the House of Commons Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights on Bill C-78 by the Canadian Association for Equality and Brian Ludmer, B.Comm, LLB. – Myths and Facts Concerning a Rebuttable Presumption of Equal Shared Parenting, 27 November 2018