Parenting After Separation Program Expands

The broader context

Parenting After Separation HandbookThe Parenting After Separation program expanded on October 1, 2010 to four new mandatory PAS sites (Campbell River, Courtenay, Penticton and Vernon) in the Provincial Court.  In addition, the Ministry of Attorney General is  promoting voluntary participation in PAS for Supreme Court litigants.  These free, three-hour sessions are offered in 17 locations in B.C. and help separating and divorcing parents ensure their decisions take into account the best interests of their children.  Sessions also inform parents very generally about the litigation process and about non-adversarial options for resolving issues involving children. 

The program has been offered for more than 12 years by the Ministry of Attorney General.  Ministry evaluations show: participants are very satisfied with the program; fewer cases proceed to court as a result of attending a session; and cases that do proceed to court resolve with fewer appearances.

Click on the link at the top for more information on how to find the program in your community. You can also check out these Parenting After Separation resources on Clicklaw.

Shoplifting and Scary Letters

New on Clicklaw

“I was caught shoplifting, and now the store has sent me a letter demanding money. Can they do this?”

We’ve posted a common question on Clicklaw about “civil demand letters”. These are letters sent by stores to people who have been caught shoplifting, telling them they have to pay the store money. A CBC report this summer, “Retailers demand shoplifters pay security costs“, drew attention to this practice. Some stores send a letter to shoplifters demanding that they pay money to the store to cover costs relating to theft and fraud, such as paying store security.