Mr. Speaker, yesterday I tabled a proposed bill to amend the Maintenance Act, and a proposed bill to amend the Domestic Relations Act. The proposed bills would implement some recommendations of The Justice House - Report of the Special Advisor on Gender Equality, and the Family Law Review report. Both of these reports have been of considerable interest to Members and the public.
The proposed bill to amend the Maintenance Act would allow the courts to order the payment of non-monetary support such as country food or firewood in an order for alimony or where a spouse is entitled to a judgment of judicial separation. This amendment was proposed in The Justice House report.
The proposed bill to amend the Domestic Relations Act would extend support obligations to persons in common-law relationships, and would allow for the making of non-monetary support orders for goods such as country food or firewood.
The amendment respecting support obligations for common-law couples is consistent with the Family Law Review report and The Justice House report.
The amendment respecting non-monetary support was recommended in The Justice House report. Thank you.
---Applause
---Laughter