Bill S-202 explained in plain English
An Act to amend the Divorce Act (shared parenting plans)
Federal Parliament bill summary, status, timeline, sponsor, votes, and official sources.
At a glance
Official Parliament of Canada snapshot for 42nd Parliament, 1st Session. MP vote breakdowns appear when the House of Commons publishes a recorded division export for that bill. Senate and House stage details include official debate/sitting links when LEGISinfo publishes them.
Our plain-language take, written for civic education.
Source: By PoliticalData.ca
Bill S-202 amends the Divorce Act to require courts to ensure reasonable parenting arrangements are made for children before granting a divorce, and to allow couples to include a parenting plan in custody or access applications that sets out shared parenting principles.
Bill S-202, called the Shared Parenting Act, changes federal divorce law to do three main things: 1. **Parenting Arrangements Requirement**: Before granting a divorce, courts must confirm that reasonable arrangements have been made for parenting any children of the marriage. If such arrangements have not been made, the court must delay the divorce until they are. 2. **Parenting Plans**: The bill allows either one or both spouses to include a parenting plan as part of an application for a custody or access order. A parenting plan is a written document that sets out each parent's responsibilities and authority regarding the child's care, development, and upbringing. It may cover matters such as where the child lives, how time is divided between parents, who makes decisions about education and health, how disputes between parents will be resolved, and how the plan can be updated. 3. **Shared Parenting Principles**: The bill establishes seven fundamental principles that a parenting plan should express. These include: the plan serves the child's best interests; all decisions must be made with the child's best interests in mind; divorce does not change the shared nature of parenting or the parent-child bond; the child has the right to know and be cared for by both parents and to maintain regular contact with each; the child can spend time with other important people like grandparents; each parent has the right to information about the child's health and education; and each parent retains authority and responsibility for the child, including participating in major decisions. However, courts can approve a parenting plan that does not include all these principles if the court believes it is in the child's best interests. If both parents agree to a plan that includes all the principles, the court can presume it serves the child's best interests unless there is evidence to the contrary.
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Generated using AI from official bill text. Not legal advice. It is written by PoliticalData.ca for civic education, automatically checked and spot-reviewed before publishing.
Official textParliamentary Process
Bill S-202, concerning shared parenting plans, completed its first reading in the Senate on December 8, 2015, before being referred to committee and undergoing second reading.
This artifact describes the procedural steps taken for Bill S-202, An Act to amend the Divorce Act (shared parenting plans), during its first reading in the Senate on December 8, 2015. The bill was later referred to a committee and had second reading debates. It also notes a similar bill, S-216, introduced in a previous Parliament.
On December 8, 2015, the Senate proceeded with its first reading of Bill S-202, alongside other procedural matters and debates on questions of privilege.
This artifact details the Senate's proceedings on December 8, 2015. It includes introductions, congratulatory remarks for the new Speaker, and the first reading of several bills, including Bill S-202. The Senate also debated procedural matters, including questions of privilege regarding media leaks and the government's failure to appoint a leader in the Senate. The proceedings also covered tabling of reports and motions related to committee business and the Speech from the Throne debate.
Bill S-202, concerning amendments to the Divorce Act for shared parenting plans, completed its Second Reading stage in the Senate and was referred to committee.
This artifact records the completed Second Reading stage for Bill S-202 in the Senate. The bill, titled "An Act to amend the Divorce Act (shared parenting plans)", was introduced in the Senate on December 8, 2015. Second reading debates took place on March 9, 2016, and May 10, 2016. Following these debates, the bill was referred to a committee on October 6, 2016. The artifact also notes similar previous bills, such as S-216, which also aimed to amend the Divorce Act concerning shared parenting plans.
On March 9, 2016, the Senate convened for a sitting that included statements, proceedings, and debates on various matters, including the adjournment of the debate on Bill S-202 at its second reading stage.
This record documents a sitting of the Senate that took place on March 9, 2016. The sitting included Senators' Statements, Routine Proceedings, Orders of the Day, and Question Period. Notably, Bill S-202, "An Act to amend the Divorce Act (shared parenting plans)," was introduced for second reading and its debate was adjourned. Other matters discussed included various bills, committee reports, inquiries, and topical issues raised during Question Period.
During a Senate sitting on May 10, 2016, the second reading debate on Bill S-202, concerning shared parenting plans in divorce, continued with a detailed explanation from Senator Cools, alongside Question Period and tributes to a retiring senator.
This artifact is a record of a Senate sitting on May 10, 2016. The primary procedural activity documented is the continuation of the second reading debate for Bill S-202, An Act to amend the Divorce Act (shared parenting plans). Senator Anne C. Cools spoke extensively on the bill, explaining its purpose to require divorcing parents to provide parenting plans and discussing the legal history and principles related to the "best interests of the child." The sitting also included Question Period, where the Minister of Infrastructure and Communities answered questions on various infrastructure projects, and tributes to Senator David P. Smith who was retiring.
During the second reading debate on Bill S-202, the sponsor argued for amendments to the Divorce Act to ensure parental responsibilities are given equal weight to child support obligations, proposing that courts require parenting plans in divorce proceedings.
This record details a Senate debate on Bill S-202, an Act to amend the Divorce Act regarding shared parenting plans. Senator Anne C. Cools, the bill's sponsor, delivered a speech at the second reading stage. She explained that the bill aims to address what she perceives as an imbalance in the Divorce Act, where child support obligations are strictly enforced, but parenting responsibilities are not given equal weight. She proposed that the bill would require divorcing spouses to provide parenting plans outlining their responsibilities for their children's care and upbringing, and would empower courts to stay divorce proceedings if reasonable parenting arrangements are not made. The speech also included extensive historical and legal context regarding child welfare and equity in Canadian law, citing numerous past cases and legislation. The debate was then suspended.
On October 4, 2016, the Senate conducted routine proceedings, Question Period with the Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, and continued debate on several bills, including Bill S-202 concerning divorce and shared parenting plans, which was adjourned.
This record details a Senate sitting on October 4, 2016. The sitting included various procedural activities such as tabling reports, presenting committee findings, introducing a bill, and conducting Question Period where the Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship answered questions on topics including citizenship fraud, refugee and immigrant integration, and the caregiver program. A significant portion of the debate focused on a motion regarding photographic coverage in the Senate, which was ultimately put to a vote and debated. The sitting also included the continuation of second reading debates for several bills, including Bill S-202, An Act to amend the Divorce Act (shared parenting plans), and Bill S-229, An Act respecting underground infrastructure safety. The debate on Bill S-202 was adjourned.
On October 6, 2016, the Senate held a sitting that included Senators' Statements, Routine Proceedings, Question Period, and the 'Orders of the Day,' during which Bill S-202 concerning shared parenting plans was read a second time and referred to committee.
This document records the proceedings of the Senate on October 6, 2016. The Senate began with Senators' Statements, remembering former colleagues and discussing the centennial anniversary of women's right to vote. Routine Proceedings included tabling of reports and the presentation of committee findings. Question Period addressed topics like mental illness, Syrian refugees, and the Zika virus. The 'Orders of the Day' section shows various bills and motions being debated or referred. Notably, Bill S-202, an Act to amend the Divorce Act concerning shared parenting plans, was read a second time and referred to committee. Other items included debates on amending the Income Tax Act (Bill C-2), the Criminal Code, and proposed changes to Senate rules and committee structures.
Bill S-202, aiming to amend the Divorce Act for shared parenting plans, was undergoing consideration in a Senate committee on December 14, 2017, with that specific session not being completed.
This record indicates that Bill S-202, concerning amendments to the Divorce Act related to shared parenting plans, was scheduled for consideration in a Senate committee on December 14, 2017. The stage was not completed on that date. The bill was previously referred to a committee on October 6, 2016, and had its first and second readings in the Senate in late 2015 and early 2016, respectively.
Bill S-202 has not yet reached the Report Stage in the Senate, with its referral to committee on October 6, 2016, being the latest recorded activity.
This record indicates that Bill S-202, an Act to amend the Divorce Act concerning shared parenting plans, has not yet reached the Report Stage in the Senate. The latest activity noted is its referral to a committee on October 6, 2016. Information about earlier stages like First and Second Reading, as well as committee consideration and major speeches, is provided, but the Report Stage itself has not occurred.
Bill S-202 concerning shared parenting plans has not yet reached the Third Reading stage in the Senate, with its latest procedural activity being a referral to committee in October 2016.
This artifact describes the procedural status of Bill S-202, An Act to amend the Divorce Act (shared parenting plans), in the Senate. The bill has not yet reached the Third Reading stage. Its latest activity was a referral to committee on October 6, 2016. The artifact also lists previous stages like First Reading on December 8, 2015, and Second Reading on March 9 and May 10, 2016. It notes that major speeches occurred during Second Reading in October 2016, and the bill was considered in committee in December 2017. A similar bill, S-216, with the short title 'Shared Parenting Act', was introduced in a previous Parliament and was at Second Reading at that time.
This House of Commons artifact indicates that Bill S-202, an Act to amend the Divorce Act regarding shared parenting plans, reached First Reading on December 8, 2015, but this stage was 'Not reached' within this record, and the bill is currently under consideration in the Senate.
This artifact describes the legislative process for Bill S-202 in the House of Commons. It shows that the bill reached its First Reading stage on Tuesday, December 8, 2015. However, the 'Stage state' is marked as 'Not reached', indicating that this procedural step did not occur as recorded in this specific artifact. The bill's current status is listed as 'At consideration in committee in the Senate'. Information is also provided about subsequent stages, like Second Reading and Committee consideration in the Senate, along with a note about similar bills from a previous Parliament.
This artifact details the procedural progression of Bill S-202, indicating the House of Commons Second Reading stage has not been reached, while the bill is currently under consideration in a Senate committee.
The provided text is an artifact describing the procedural status of Bill S-202 in the House of Commons. It indicates that the 'House of Commons Second reading' stage has not yet been reached. The bill's current overall status is 'At consideration in committee in the Senate'. The artifact also lists past activities like First Reading on December 8, 2015, and Second Reading dates in the House of Commons on March 9, 2016, and May 10, 2016. It notes a sponsor's speech by Senator Anne C. Cools on May 10, 2016, during the Senate's Second Reading. The artifact does not contain the text of any debates or speeches, only procedural information and dates.
Bill S-202, concerning shared parenting plans under the Divorce Act, has not yet reached the committee consideration stage in the House of Commons, though it has undergone various procedural steps in the Senate.
This artifact describes the procedural status of Bill S-202 in the House of Commons. It indicates that the bill has not yet reached the stage of 'Consideration in committee' in the House of Commons. The record shows the bill was referred to a committee in the Senate on October 6, 2016, and had readings in the Senate in December 2015 and March/May 2016. It also lists dates in December 2017 when the bill was considered in committee in the Senate, and notes speeches made during its second reading in the Senate. A similar bill, S-216, from a previous Parliament is also mentioned.
The House of Commons Report stage for Bill S-202 has not been reached, with the provided information detailing the bill's progression through the Senate.
The artifact indicates that the House of Commons Report stage for Bill S-202 has not yet been reached. The provided text focuses on the bill's progress in the Senate, including its referral to a committee and major speeches during second reading. It also notes similar bills introduced in a previous Parliament.
This artifact shows that the House of Commons Third Reading stage for Bill S-202 has not been reached, and the bill is currently under consideration by a Senate committee.
The provided text indicates that Bill S-202, concerning amendments to the Divorce Act for shared parenting plans, has not yet reached the Third Reading stage in the House of Commons. The artifact is a record of this specific procedural stage. The bill's current status is 'At consideration in committee in the Senate.' The record lists past activities such as First Reading, Second Reading, and Consideration in committee in the Senate, along with dates. It also notes a previous, similar bill, S-216.
Debate and sitting links point to official parliamentary sources when LEGISinfo publishes them. Any plain-language discussion summaries should be generated from those official texts and reviewed before public display.
Vote Summary
This bill is still active. We only show vote counts after the legislature publishes a recorded division.
No published representative vote breakdown
This bill is still moving through the process. When a recorded division is published, representative positions can be listed here.
Official sources
Status, sponsor, votes, and timeline on this page are drawn from these official legislative sources and public records. Each summary above is attributed to its own source.
How this data is sourced