Bill C-223: Monique Speaks for Alienated Parents and Children at the DOJ

Introduction

Monique Dietvorst represented targeted parents and alienated children at the August 14 Department of Justice roundtable on Bill C-223. She raised concerns about the bill’s reliance on disputed research, its failure to address suicide and coercive control, and the need to recognize parental alienating behaviours as a serious issue affecting children and parents.

This is about speaking up for children and parents who may be experiencing coercion, professional misconduct, and parental alienation. We are speaking for everyone affected by these situations. Bill C-223 must be stopped because removing parental alienation from consideration could prevent courts and professionals from properly addressing conduct that harms children and damages their relationships with a parent. The child’s best interests must remain the priority. 

It is unnatural for a child to out of the blue start rejecting a parent, especially when it happens at the start of or in the midst of family law court proceedings. Alienators and their attorneys more often than not, take advantage of court proceedings, deliberate delay tactics, overloading the court, vs keeping the focus on facts and history. Children become hostages.  In survival mode. On the surface a facade and face is put on. That is the dynamic at play. Proven, time and time again.

Monique's statement about her experience at the DOJ on August 14th, 2026

I Represented You at the Department of Justice Roundtable on Bill C-223 . Here's What Happened
On August 14, I attended the DOJ roundtable on Bill C-223. I went into that room to ensure that the voices of targeted parents and alienated children were heard. Here are the key points I made:

The UN Special Rapporteur on Parental Alienation Denial (done by Reem Alsolem) Does Not Carry Official Authority. Proponents cite it as if it represents UN policy. It does not. The UN Human Rights Council never adopted it. We should base policy on peer-reviewed evidence, not on a report the UN itself refused to endorse.

The Bill Ignores the Crisis of Suicide. The engagement paper focuses on homicide, but divorced men are roughly 90 times more likely to die by suicide than to be involved in a spousal homicide. A policy that ignores this is dangerously incomplete.

The Meier Study Is Flawed. I submitted a side-by-side comparison showing that the Meier study, the foundation of the bill's claim that parental alienation is a "pseudo-concept", fails all nine basic standards of scientific rigor. My recommendation: do not pass this bill based on flawed science.
A Constructive Alternative. Instead of banning alienation claims, I recommended adding parental alienating behaviors to the Divorce Act's coercive control framework, using Dr. Amy Baker's peer-reviewed research identifying 17 specific alienating tactics.

Our opponents were visibly disturbed. They tried to dominate the discussion, but I answered every point with evidence. They left abruptly and did not thank the DOJ for hosting, a breach of professional etiquette that speaks volumes.

The fight is not over, but we have made it harder for them to ignore us.

Please share this post, write to your MP, and stay informed.
Thank you for your support.
Monique S. Dietvorst
Founder, Parental Alienation Canada

Take Action
Parents and concerned Canadians should contact the Minister of Justice directly and make their voices heard. Government officials need to understand how Bill C-223 could affect children, parents, and families across Canada. Please write respectfully, explain your personal experience, and ask the government to stop Bill C-223 and support evidence-based protections for children and both parents.

The Honourable Sean Fraser
Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada

Email: mcu@justice.gc.ca

Mailing address:
The Honourable Sean Fraser
Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada
284 Wellington Street
Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0H8

Fax: 1-613-957-3559

Contact page:
https://www.justice.gc.ca/eng/contact/index.html

For other Government of Canada programs, visit www.canada.ca or call 1-800-OCanada.