Quebec's New Bill: Protecting Kids from Abusive Parents

0:00It's April 9th. Welcome to Canada News Today, powered by AI. Quebec's got a hot bill on the table to shield kids from abuse of parents in custody fights. Quebec's solidaire member Christine Lebrie just introduced it in the National Assembly. It tweaks the civil code so the abuser has to prove they're safe for the child, instead of victims proving the danger. This flips the current setup where moms or caregivers must show how the abuse hurts the kid. The change also protects those reporting violence so they won't lose ground in court. Lebrie's been hearing these horror stories since she started in politics back in 2018. Dozens of groups and pros sign an open letter cheering it on, saying courts treat family violence like an adult spat and forget the children. Experts point out evidence that forcing contact with both parents isn't always best for the young ones. Abuse always hits kids hard, no matter what. Backers argue. It's not about banning dads or moms outright, but putting the child's knees front and center every time.

1:00The bill eyes passage by June's session end, but needs buy-in from the ruling CAQ party. Their leadership vote hits Sunday, and both frontrunners dig child safety, so momentum's building to make this real protection stick.