The old Matrimonial Property Act's section 37(2) contained a term stating that individuals could enter into agreements contracting out of the MPA in contemplation of marriage. This was replaced by another term in the FPA, and there is no longer any reference to contemplation of marriage. Section 37(1) reads "...if, in respect of that property, the spouses or adult interdependent partners have entered into a subsisting written agreement with each other..." While I would hope that would be interpreted to only refer to their subsequent status, there's a risk that could be interpreted to mean that they need to be spouses or AIPs to enter into agreements.

Even more dangerous is section 37(5), which reads "An agreement under subsection (1) that is entered into by a person purporting to be an adult interdependent partner, knowing or in circumstances in which the person ought to have known that there was no valid adult interdependent relationship within the meaning of the Adult Interdependent Relationships Act, is unenforceable by that person." It's inevitable that childless couples will sign agreements calling them AIPs before the three year mark, without realizing that they've entered into an invalid agreement. It will also inevitably lead to much litigation where people dispute their AIP status. I don't see any benefit from leaving this provision in, if people are using agreements for fraudulent purposes such as obtaining financing then there are other remedies.

While practicing in BC, I hardly ever ran a trial in a child welfare matter. Instead, liberal use of mediation was used. The mediators were not lawyers but they had the mediation course as well as a specialized course in mediating child protection matters. The mediations include all parties, lawyers, social workers community support individuals, extended families, foster parents (sometimes) and elders. They could easily involve 8 to 12 participants or more. Almost all matters came to some resolution from these. Sometimes there would be more than one mediation during the course of the matter. Avoiding trial means the parents are not sitting in a courtroom hearing terrible things said about them which they find personally devastating. It frees up court and trial time for other matters.

Alberta Justice, in conjunction with the Courts, has sought feedback relating to its Family Justice Strategy. AFLA is seeking feedback from its members to gauge support for the initiatives in the process of being implemented, and to feed into ongoing Family Justice Strategy advocacy.

Please vote and leave your comments, so that we can compile AFLA’s input for submissions now and in developing an advocacy platform going forward. Comments and votes may be forwarded to government and external organizations.

If you think that there should be exceptions, please leave them in the comments. AFLA doesn’t have a position on any of these issues yet, but after gauging our membership’s support or concerns we intend to advocate on your behalf.

Please respond and leave your feedback by NOON THIS FRIDAY, November 10, 2023. However, if you vote or leave comment afterwards it may still be helpful as it informs our longer-term approach.

Alberta Justice, in conjunction with the Courts, has sought feedback relating to its Family Justice Strategy. AFLA is seeking feedback from its members to gauge support for the initiatives in the process of being implemented, and to feed into ongoing Family Justice Strategy advocacy.

Please vote and leave your comments, so that we can compile AFLA’s input for submissions now and in developing an advocacy platform going forward. Comments and votes may be forwarded to government and external organizations.

If you think that there should be exceptions, please leave them in the comments. AFLA doesn’t have a position on any of these issues yet, but after gauging our membership’s support or concerns we intend to advocate on your behalf.

Please respond and leave your feedback by NOON THIS FRIDAY, November 10, 2023. However, if you vote or leave comment afterwards it may still be helpful as it informs our longer-term approach.

Alberta Justice, in conjunction with the Courts, has sought feedback relating to its Family Justice Strategy. AFLA is seeking feedback from its members to gauge support for the initiatives in the process of being implemented, and to feed into ongoing Family Justice Strategy advocacy.

Please vote and leave your comments, so that we can compile AFLA’s input for submissions now and in developing an advocacy platform going forward. Comments and votes may be forwarded to government and external organizations.

If you think that there should be exceptions, please leave them in the comments. AFLA doesn’t have a position on any of these issues yet, but after gauging our membership’s support or concerns we intend to advocate on your behalf.

Please respond and leave your feedback by NOON THIS FRIDAY, November 10, 2023. However, if you vote or leave comment afterwards it may still be helpful as it informs our longer-term approach.

Alberta Justice, in conjunction with the Courts, has sought feedback relating to its Family Justice Strategy. AFLA is seeking feedback from its members to gauge support for the initiatives in the process of being implemented, and to feed into ongoing Family Justice Strategy advocacy.

Please vote and leave your comments, so that we can compile AFLA’s input for submissions now and in developing an advocacy platform going forward. Comments and votes may be forwarded to government and external organizations.

If you think that there should be exceptions, please leave them in the comments. AFLA doesn’t have a position on any of these issues yet, but after gauging our membership’s support or concerns we intend to advocate on your behalf.

Please respond and leave your feedback by NOON THIS FRIDAY, November 10, 2023. However, if you vote or leave comment afterwards it may still be helpful as it informs our longer-term approach.

Alberta Justice, in conjunction with the Courts, has sought feedback relating to its Family Justice Strategy. AFLA is seeking feedback from its members to gauge support for the initiatives in the process of being implemented, and to feed into ongoing Family Justice Strategy advocacy.

Please vote and leave your comments, so that we can compile AFLA’s input for submissions now and in developing an advocacy platform going forward. Comments and votes may be forwarded to government and external organizations.

If you think that there should be exceptions, please leave them in the comments. AFLA doesn’t have a position on any of these issues yet, but after gauging our membership’s support or concerns we intend to advocate on your behalf.

Please respond and leave your feedback by NOON THIS FRIDAY, November 10, 2023. However, if you vote or leave comment afterwards it may still be helpful as it informs our longer-term approach.

Alberta Justice, in conjunction with the Courts, has sought feedback relating to its Family Justice Strategy. AFLA is seeking feedback from its members to gauge support for the initiatives in the process of being implemented, and to feed into ongoing Family Justice Strategy advocacy.

Please vote and leave your comments, so that we can compile AFLA’s input for submissions now and in developing an advocacy platform going forward. Comments and votes may be forwarded to government and external organizations.

If you think that there should be exceptions, please leave them in the comments. AFLA doesn’t have a position on any of these issues yet, but after gauging our membership’s support or concerns we intend to advocate on your behalf.

Please respond and leave your feedback by NOON THIS FRIDAY, November 10, 2023. However, if you vote or leave comment afterwards it may still be helpful as it informs our longer-term approach.

Alberta Justice, in conjunction with the Courts, has sought feedback relating to its Family Justice Strategy. AFLA is seeking feedback from its members to gauge support for the initiatives in the process of being implemented, and to feed into ongoing Family Justice Strategy advocacy.

Please vote and leave your comments, so that we can compile AFLA’s input for submissions now and in developing an advocacy platform going forward. Comments and votes may be forwarded to government and external organizations.

If you think that there should be exceptions, please leave them in the comments. AFLA doesn’t have a position on any of these issues yet, but after gauging our membership’s support or concerns we intend to advocate on your behalf.

Please respond and leave your feedback by NOON THIS FRIDAY, November 10, 2023. However, if you vote or leave comment afterwards it may still be helpful as it informs our longer-term approach.

Alberta Justice, in conjunction with the Courts, has sought feedback relating to its Family Justice Strategy. AFLA is seeking feedback from its members to gauge support for the initiatives in the process of being implemented, and to feed into ongoing Family Justice Strategy advocacy.

Please vote and leave your comments, so that we can compile AFLA’s input for submissions now and in developing an advocacy platform going forward. Comments and votes may be forwarded to government and external organizations.

If you think that there should be exceptions, please leave them in the comments. AFLA doesn’t have a position on any of these issues yet, but after gauging our membership’s support or concerns we intend to advocate on your behalf.

Please respond and leave your feedback by NOON THIS FRIDAY, November 10, 2023. However, if you vote or leave comment afterwards it may still be helpful as it informs our longer-term approach.