Vision – Canadian Equal Parenting Council

Parenting

We believe that on family breakdown:

Everyone should be treated equitably, compassionately and respectfully;

Children of separation and divorce have a right to:

to know and be cared for by both parents;
to know their relatives and enjoy their culture; and
to spend time and communicate with both parents on a regular basis, and to maintain continuity of relationships with relatives
a process that minimizes and defuses parental conflict.

Equal parenting arrangements following separation should be the norm.
Equal parenting will be denied only when it is clear that:

a parent is unable or unwilling to take responsibility for child rearing; or
such an arrangement is clearly demonstrated to be contrary to the needs or safety of the specific child.
Where necessary, parents will be offered assistance to learn or improve the skills needed to be effective parents.

Equal parenting is a collection of best practices for keeping both parents in the lives of their children as much and as equally as possible.

Social Prejudice and Bias

Men and women should be encouraged and supported to exercise and share the rights and responsibilities that have been historically assigned predominantly to men or to women.

Both males and females should be raised to be equally competent and committed caregivers and family providers.

Each individual’s potential should be recognized in all societal roles.

Societal expectations, government policy and judicial process should not be based on gender, but on equality and respect.

Work

Both genders are equally suited to assume responsibilities in the labour market and in the home.

Society must recognize and support the equally valuable role of both mothers and fathers.

Family Violence

We recognize family violence as a social dysfunction that causes harm to everyone.

We are opposed to family violence and we are equally opposed to false allegations of family violence. Both should carry serious penalties.

The fact that family violence is perpetrated by both men and women about equally needs to be recognized. New policies and practices need to be developed based on this reality.

Family violence policies should focus on preventing harm to both parents and children.

How will we do it?

Implementation
We seek to create a coalition of organizations and individuals in Canada that share these goals, vision and principles and invite them to become affiliated with the Canadian Equal Parenting Council.

In creating this federation or coalition we seek to harness and focus the efforts of autonomous groups in Canada who share our vision in a manner that will add to the effectiveness of all of us.

We will serve as a central resource for affiliated and non-affiliated organizations in Canada that support the goals, vision and principles of our organization and act as a national voice for pro family, pro children and pro equality elements in Canada.

We will provide a means by which affiliated and non-affiliated organizations that support the goals, vision and principles of our organization can communicate with each other to organize initiatives and share successes and lessons learned.

We will seek intervener status in cases before the appellate courts where this is appropriate in moving forward the cause of social justice in terms of family law and gender equity.

We will encourage research and publications on issues faced by children, non-custodial parents, men, women and grandparents.

We will conduct equality rights and responsibilities litigation using all appropriate means including the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

We will publicly advocate for law reform in areas relevant to family law and gender equity.

We will carry out other activities that are in harmony with the Goals of the Organization and Principles of Organization and Action.