Mr. Chairman, I guess what I'm trying to find out is if this encourages or forces one of the spouses to go through the court process when a common-law relationship breaks up and one of the spouses wants maintenance payments, whether it be the woman or the man, whoever decides to take the children. I guess I'm trying to find out where it can be fine-tuned. I'm not saying that this particular bill has to be amended to accord with the concern I have, but where can we address the issue if, first of all, they choose not to go through the courts? If they can't afford to go through the courts and in the meantime, one of the spouses argues about when they separated, that then prolongs the implementation of any type of maintenance. I guess what I'm saying is this bill could possibly prolong payments to a spouse, if they choose to use the courts.
Jeannie Marie-Jewell on Bill 5: An Act To Amend The Maintenance Act
In the Legislative Assembly on February 16th, 1995. See this statement in context.
Bill 5: An Act To Amend The Maintenance Act
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
February 15th, 1995
Page 138
Jeannie Marie-Jewell Thebacha
See context to find out what was said next.