summary <div>The pre-release version of this Legislative

Summary is now available. Parliamentarians and their staff can obtain a copy by submitting a request or contacting the Library of Parliament. Members of the public can obtain a copy by contacting the Information Service at the Library of Parliament at Info@parl.gc.ca.<br/><br/>On May 2018, the Minister of Justice introduced Bill C-78,

An Act to amend the Divorce Act, the Family Orders and Agreements Enforcement Assistance Act and the Garnishment, Attachment and Pension Diversion Act and to make consequential amendments to another Act, in the House of Commons and it was given first reading. <br/><br/>Bill C-78 amends the Divorce Act to, among other things,<br/>(

a) replace terminology related to custody and access with terminology related to parenting;<br/>(

b) establish a non-exhaustive list of criteria with respect to the best interests of the child;<br/>(

c) create duties for parties and legal advisers to encourage the use of family dispute resolution processes;<br/>(

d) introduce measures to assist the courts in addressing family violence;<br/>(

e) establish a framework for the relocation of a child; and<br/>(

f) simplify certain processes, including those related to family support obligations.<br/>The enactment also amends the Family Orders and Agreements Enforcement Assistance Act to, among other things,<br/>(

a) allow the release of information to help obtain and vary a support provision;<br/>(

b) expand the release of information to other provincial family justice government entities;<br/>(

c) permit the garnishment of federal moneys to recover certain expenses related to family law; and<br/>(

d) extend the binding period of a garnishee summons.<br/>The enactment also amends those two Acts to implement<br/>(

a) the Convention on Jurisdiction, Applicable Law, Recognition, Enforcement and Co-operation in Respect of Parental Responsibility and Measures for the Protection of Children, concluded at The Hague on October 19,1996; and<br/>(

b) the Convention on the International Recovery of Child Support and Other Forms of Family Maintenance, concluded at The Hague on November 23,2007.<br/>The enactment also amends the Garnishment, Attachment and Pension Diversion Act to, among other things,<br/>(

a) give priority to family support obligations; and <br/>(

b) simplify the processes under the Act.<br/>Finally, this enactment also includes transitional provisions and makes consequential amendments to the Criminal Code.</div> House of Commons — First reading: Completed (2018-05-22) House of Commons — Second reading: Completed (2018-10-04) House of Commons — Consideration in committee: Completed (2018-12-07) House of Commons — Report stage: Completed (2019-01-30) House of Commons — Third reading: Completed (2019-02-06) Senate — First reading: Completed (2019-02-19) Senate — Second reading: Completed (2019-04-11) Senate — Consideration in committee: Completed (2019-06-17) Senate — Third reading: Completed (2019-06-18) Full bill text is not included in the LEGISinfo JSON export.

Open the official Parliament of Canada bill page for the complete document.