Bill C-223, the "Keeping Children Safe Act," passed second reading in Canada's House of Commons on February 4, 2026, and now sits before the Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights. For Ontario residents, the bill would bar courts from considering "parental alienation" claims, require lawyers to screen every family-law client for family violence, and recognize coercive control as abuse under Divorce Act s. 16.
Key Facts
| Detail | Summary |
|---|---|
| What happened | Bill C-223 passed second reading in the House of Commons |
| When | February 4, 2026 |
| Where | Federal (applies to divorcing couples in Ontario, B.C., Alberta, Quebec, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Nova Scotia) |
| Who's affected | Divorcing parents, family-law lawyers, judges, children |
| Key statute | Amends the federal Divorce Act, including s. 16 best-interests factors |
| Impact | Bans parental alienation defense, mandates family-violence screening, recognizes coercive control |
Nearly 300 organizations have endorsed the private member's bill, according to the Ontario Bar Association. The bill represents the next phase of Divorce Act reform, building on the 2021 amendments and Keira's Law, which mandated judicial education on family violence and coercive control in 2024.
Why this matters legally
Bill C-223 would fundamentally change how Ontario family courts weigh allegations in high-conflict parenting disputes. The bill directs courts to stop treating "parental alienation" as an admissible concept, removing a defense that respondents have used to reframe a child's resistance to contact as manipulation by the other parent rather than a response to the parent's own conduct.
This is a definitive shift, not a procedural tweak. Under the current framework in Divorce Act s. 16, Ontario judges already must consider family violence when determining parenting arrangements and decision-making responsibility. Bill C-223 sharpens that mandate by classifying coercive control as a distinct, recognizable form of abuse, rather than requiring proof of physical violence. Coercive control includes patterns of isolation, financial domination, surveillance, and threats that erode a partner's autonomy over time.
The bill also bans court-ordered mandatory reunification therapy, programs that compel a child to restore contact with a parent they resist. Critics, including child-safety advocates, argue these programs can retraumatize children. Removing them changes the toolkit Ontario judges currently draw from when contact has broken down.
How Canadian law handles this
Canadian family law operates under the federal Divorce Act for married couples and provincial statutes for unmarried parents. In Ontario, married couples divorce under the Divorce Act, while parenting and support for unmarried parents fall under the Children's Law Reform Act and the Family Law Act.
The 2021 Divorce Act amendments already replaced "custody" and "access" language with "parenting time" and "decision-making responsibility," and required courts to consider family violence as a best-interests factor. Bill C-223 builds directly on that foundation. It would amend Divorce Act s. 16 to formally recognize coercive control and would require every lawyer to screen clients for family violence at intake, a duty that does not currently exist in statute.
Keira's Law, passed in 2024, mandated that federally appointed judges receive training on intimate partner violence and coercive control. Bill C-223 extends that policy direction into the substantive rules courts apply. The bill would also permit judges to hear directly from children about their views and preferences, reinforcing the child-participation principle already embedded in the 2021 amendments. Because the Divorce Act is federal, any changes would apply uniformly to divorcing couples in Ontario, British Columbia, Alberta, Quebec, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and Nova Scotia.
Practical takeaways
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Expect intake screening to change. If Bill C-223 becomes law, every Ontario family-law lawyer will be required to screen you for family violence at your first meeting. Be prepared to answer questions about coercive control, financial control, and patterns of intimidation, not just physical incidents.
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Document coercive control patterns now. If you are experiencing isolation, financial domination, or surveillance, keep dated records. Coercive control is harder to prove than physical violence because it is cumulative. Contemporaneous notes, messages, and financial records strengthen your position under the existing Divorce Act s. 16 framework.
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Understand the alienation shift. If you are a parent whose child resists contact, courts will increasingly examine why. The bill discourages reflexive alienation claims, so focus on demonstrating safe, child-centred parenting rather than blaming the other parent.
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Reunification therapy may end. If a reunification program has been proposed in your case, consult your lawyer about how the bill, if passed, could affect court-ordered participation.
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Children may speak directly. The bill expands a child's ability to express views to the court. Prepare for the possibility that your child's voice will carry more weight in parenting determinations.
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Track the bill's progress. Second reading is not the final step. The Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights will study the bill, propose amendments, and report back before third reading and a Senate vote. Nothing is law yet.
If you are navigating a divorce or parenting dispute in Ontario and want to understand how these proposed reforms might affect your situation, an independent family-law lawyer in your province can review your specific facts and explain your current options under existing law. You can browse our directory to find a divorce lawyer near you.
This article discusses recent news and provides general legal commentary. It does not constitute legal advice. Every case is unique. Consult a qualified family law attorney for advice specific to your situation.