Interjurisdictional Support Orders Act to come into effect today

Changes to the rules that cover inter-provincial family maintenance orders will come into effect today, Justice Minister Kelvin Parsons announced.

The new Interjurisdictional Support Orders Act improves the way families get support orders enforced between provinces. Until now, two court hearings have been required to obtain or change a support order where the applicant lives in one province and the respondent resides in another province.

"The new act reduces the court hearings from two to one, which saves the applicant the time and expense of going to court," said Minister Parsons.

In Newfoundland and Labrador, the system works in concert with the Support Enforcement Program. Set up in 1989, the program helps enforce support orders. The Department of Justice Support Enforcement Division collected $153 million for Newfoundland and Labrador families since it was established.

Media contact: Edwina Bateman, Communications, (709) 729-6985.

2003 03 31                                       10:45 a.m.