"Children need financial support from their parents – and they have a legal right to it. When parents separate or divorce, they should try to agree on the amount of child support. If they ask a court to decide, the court will use guidelines to determine child support payments. Some child support guidelines fall under federal law, while others are under provincial or territorial law. The guidelines that apply depend on the family's situation" - Government of Canada Website

Child support should not be based on GROSS ANNUAL INCOME.

Paying child support is a Legal obligation but every child should have the same equal opportunity as the next. The current Canadian system heavily relies on a family’s wealth versus value of each and every individual child. Why does one child not deserve the same fair opportunity as the next? The basis for what every child needs to grow and live comfortably is across the board the same and despite the income amount a median should be created across the country.

Separations and divorces occur every day through the country for many different reasons for both just and unjust reasons;

Example: A spouse is unfaithful to her partner which results in a separation. Why does one partner in turn pay an income based amount to the other ex-partner? To provide the child with the same lifestyle? Suddenly one parent is responsible for maintaining his life style and trying to support a second equal lifestyle. This doesn’t work. Even if the partner with child custody suddenly becomes wealthy or remarries and can maintain a higher lifestyle the equation never rebalances. In many cases one spouse can end up paying for more to support the child in the other household then it would actually cost to have the child live with them.

On top of paying child support there are the additional expenses such as medical, dental, daycare, sports and school events.

As a mother, my child's father does pay child support: That being said we have agreed on an amount of 300 dollars for child support and half of child care costs which equal around 800 dollars monthly. I find this is more than enough, I'm sure he does as well. Not all situations are like mine, my ex, and I get along well and I know that's not the case for most people following a separation.

Even if a parent is receiving high child support payment they are still entitled to receive government assistant (child tax, universal benefits, government assistance, subsistence) If these people were still with their spouses they wouldn't receive these listed benefits. meanwhile ex-partners paying child support or daycare expenses are not eligible for any assistance at all, and can end up suffering due to the high costs.

I believe the Canadian government should set a country wide standard for child support that takes into one overall factor;

That every child should be of equal value and receive the same support payment nation wide

It should then be up to the parents to determine what extra funding they can afford to help that child based on their own financial situations. This is the exact decision a regular household would have to determine in the first place!!!

In my opinion a more realistic way to divide and provide for a child should be as followed;

Children newborn to age of 5 the maximum support should be $400 plus half of the child care costs. (Medical, dental and extra-curricular activities still are split)

Children 5 -12 supports should be $300 plus half of child care costs. Daycare costs typical go down giving the parents additional income in both households to redirect to different aspects of the child lifestyle (Medical, dental and extra-curricular activities still are split)

Children 12-18 support should be $250. In most cases no daycare costs apply at this age and any extra activities are expenses are already split between both parents.

The current system for child support makes it out that the parent with custody is unable to have a successful career, higher income or stable lifestyle. This is an old fashion approach that is no longer applicable in our current society. Based on the current system if the governments intentions are based on obtaining a higher life style for the child then by default the higher income parent should be awarded custody.

I have started this petition in hopes that the Canadian government will reassess the current system to bring equality to parents and ALL children.

You may not agree on all points I have outlined but please sign my petition in hopes the government will realize the current laws are not in a family’s best interest.