Mr. Chairman, I'm not quite clear on what the question is, but I will see if some more comments will help. When a common-law relationship breaks up the parties -- at least one -- would probably end up looking for another relationship quite quickly. I'm just making this up, but bear with me. It would be difficult to strike up another relationship and give certainty to that one if there are still possible outstanding legal or financial obligations that have to be fulfilled.

For instance, if a member goes into another relationship immediately, there should be some period of time in which he or she should know whether a former partner may initiate action which would then mean them ending up making monthly payments in support. That is why we introduced the two years. On the other hand, it gives what you may call "the grieving party" lots of time to initiate action: two years, about when the relationship may or may not have broken up, according to their own definitions.

As I understand it, if there's a written contract between the two to govern their common-law relationship, then that contract could be legally binding on them and these provisions won't necessarily apply.