Federal Candidates Questioned on Family Law

June 16, 2004 permalink

Three of the Dufferin-Peel candidates for federal parliament in the June 28 election appeared at an all-candidates meeting this evening at Monora Park. Rita Landry of the New Democrats had to attend her father in the hospital, Ursula Ellis of the Christian Heritage Party did not appear.

Two questions related to family law.

Before a child reaches age of majority, about half of Canadian fathers are restricted from access to their own children. The main reason in the federal Divorce Act. Do you favor changes to the Divorce Act so that more fathers can see their own children?

Murray Calder (Liberal) answered: Yes. Then he elaborated that the same problem existed for grandparents, and some consideration should be given to them as well.

Ted Alexander (Green) expressed unfamiliarity with the issue, but was sympathetic to fathers.

David Tilson (Conservative) said that these matters should be decided in the best interest of the child. He said it was correct to handle these matters by hearing all sides of the issue in the courts. He said grandparents should have no say in the matter, because children have enough problems being torn between mother and father, they did not need more people contending for custody.

The next question was:

Do you favor same-sex marriage?

Mr Tilson opposed same sex marriage.

Mr Alexander supported same sex marriage.

Mr Calder said he was in favor of traditional marriage. He continued stating that it was possible to make changes in the wording of some laws to allow for civil unions of same sex couples, without it being a marriage.

A later questioner suggested that Mr Calder could have saved some problems for the voters by crossing the aisle.