MEP launches "Recalculation Program" (aka RP)

Alberta Justice - responsible for the "Maintenance Enforcement Program" (MEP, the group who acts as a collection agency for Child Support payments within Alberta) is apparently scheduled to launch it's "Child Support Recalculation Program (RP)" tomorrow. (http://www.justice.gov.ab.ca/recalculation)

This program will allow "creditors/debtors" a low-cost, alternative administrative process to changing child support payments - rather than undertaking a costly, time consuming and sometimes intimidating/challenging court procedure that has been in place up to now.

The program is intended to cover mostly "plain vanilla" situations where:

• a child support order has been issued, registered, is outstanding and has been followed.
• will be permitted once every 12 months.
• minimal cost of $75 per application.

Undoubtedly as this program is just starting, procedures will be adopted and implemented as experience grows. More details can be found at the Alberta Justice website. Stay tuned.

Judge reverses parental alienation ruling

Unfortunate news on landmark case .

Heather Capannelli | Publication Date: Monday, 09 November 2009 - Law Times

In another case underscoring the controversy over parental alienation workshops, Justice Thea Herman of the Ontario Superior Court struck down part of an arbitrator’s award earlier this year that would have removed two teenage boys from the custody of their father and sent them to Texas. The decision follows a series of judgments in which Ontario courts have ordered a change in custody and sent the custodial parent along with the children to participate in the workshop.

In S.G.B. v. S.J.L., the court set aside part of an award concluding that the workshop was in the best interest of the boys because the arbitrator relied too heavily on an assessment of them prepared by Richard Warshak, who admitted he hadn’t met them personally.

In his testimony and written evidence, the psychologist and author explicitly declined to make recommendations with respect to the children because he had never observed them before. [more]

How can we progress against the Child Abuse of PAS when Judges do not hold PA accountable? I also feel that many Child Assessments could use video-conferences effectively, at least in the beginning. Save the air-travel for intervention/treatment. But this is a depressing turn of events.

We must continue to educate as many as possible in Family Law about PAS. I maintain that Vellacott's PMB-C422 remains an excellent 1st step and invite EVERYONE to contact their MP/MLA about it.

CTV W5 airs segment on PAS - Sat Nov 7@7pm + Sun Nov 8@12 noon

RED ALERT

I have just heard from Rhonda that CTV W5 will broadcast segment on PAS entitled "Poisoned Minds: Children On The Frontlines Of Divorce" this Sat Nov 7, 2009 at 7pm (local). Typically it is re-broadcast the next day (Sunday) at noon as well. In case you miss BOTH of those - it should be up online at http://www.ctv.ca/w5/ - afterwards.

Rhonda is a member of PAAO in Central Alberta, having been affected by it her whole life. I encourage everyone to watch this program. I will attempt to post link or YouTube video here afterwards.

Regards, crj