conference and judge for mediation. The judge
could also make referrals to community
services, Custody and access reports were only
prepared after mediation attempts failed and
the case was referred for trial.

An evaluation of the pilot project revealed that
fewer cases went before a judge in Rule 5 sites.
Those that did go ahead made fewer
appearances before a judge.

Child Support Guidelines and federal
contribution funding

In 1997, amendments were made to the Divorce
Alct and its regulations to introduce a new
scheme for child support payments, and to the
Income Tax Act. The new federal Child Support
Guidelines changed how child support amounts
were determined under the Divorce At.

These new guidelines established rules and
tables to calculate the amount of child support
a parent should contribute. The intention of the
new guidelines was to help parents avoid long
and costly litigation. Under the old system,

litigation created emotional strain on parents
and their children.

Three main factors wete considered in
determining the payment amount:

a Patent’s income;

» Number of children; and

» Province or territory of residence.

These guidelines made it easier to arrive at a
child support amount and reduce conflict
between spouses when making child support

calculations. British Columbia introduced Child
Support Guidelines in 1998" and family justice
counsellors assisted parents in processing child
support applications in provincial court.
Eventually, child support clerks were located in
22 family justice centres to help with the initial
introduction of the guidelines. By the summer
of 1999, only three child support clerk positions
were funded.

Parent education program and Parenting
After Separation (PAS)

Parent education programs, along with
mediation and conciliation services, contributed
to reduced demand for litigation and lower
court costs. More families settled their
separation and divorce issues outside of court.
Following positive feedback, the Ministry of
Attorney General decided to expand parent
education programs to 50 communities across
the province.

With federal funds through the child support
initiative, the program curriculum was updated
in 1997. This program became known as the
parenting after separation (PAS) program.

The Branch, in partnership with the Law

Courts Education Society, produced a parenting
after separation handbook that the judiciary
supported as an important parental resource.”
Smaller, rural communities could obtain a PAS
workbook and home video study package
through local libraries instead of attending a

PAS session.

48 The child support guidelines were introduced through an amendment to the FPumily Relations Act (B.C.) and

Regulations.

49 Parenting After Separation: A Handbook for Parents, Law Courts Education Society of B.C. Vancouver, B.C., March

1999,

262

Corrections in British Columbia