Bill C-223: Keeping Children Safe Act

This bill primarily affects family law practitioners — lawyers, mediators, and legal advisers — across all Canadian provinces and territories who handle divorce and custody cases. These professionals will face new mandatory duties to assess family violence risks for every client, develop safety plans when risks are identified, and inform clients about support services. Family dispute resolution professionals (mediators, arbitrators) will also be affected, as the bill changes when reconciliation and mediation can be recommended. Additionally, professionals offering reunification therapy programs or parental alienation assessments will see their services effectively barred from court-ordered use. The bill applies regardless of firm size, from solo family law practitioners to larger firms with dedicated family law departments.