A restraining order exists for one reason: to protect a child from harm.

But in Canada today, even if a child has a restraining order against a parent due to abuse, neglect, threats, or violence, that parent can still legally make decisions about the child’s life: decisions about where they go to school, what medical care they receive, and even where they live. Once a child can voice that they do not feel safe or comfortable with a parent due to physical, sexual, or emotional abuse, it should trigger immediate safeguards that prioritize their protection over parental rights, ensuring no further harm is done while a thorough investigation takes place by police, social worker, teachers, etc.

This is NOT protection. It is a loophole in the law that places vulnerable children back under the control of the very person they have been legally separated from for their safety. It sends a dangerous message: “We believe you’re at risk, but we will still let your abuser control your life.”

As a survivor of childhood sexual assault, I know how deeply damaging this message can be. For a child, safety isn’t just physical, it’s emotional. Knowing that someone you fear still has power over your life creates a constant state of fear, anxiety, and helplessness. It prevents healing. Abusers want power, and they are often protected by their own families to prevent shame from being found. 

I am calling for a change in the law:
 If a child has a restraining order against a parent, that parent should have no decision-making authority over the child for the duration of the order; unless the court explicitly determines otherwise after a separate, thorough review that prioritizes the child’s physical and emotional safety and voice first and above all things - children first.  

This is not about punishing parents,  it’s about protecting children. The best interest of the child has to be more than words on paper; it must be the foundation of our laws.

Children deserve to grow up without fear, without manipulation, and without being controlled by someone a court has already recognized as a risk to them.

Sign this petition to urge lawmakers to close this dangerous gap and ensure that restraining orders truly mean safety for children.