Michel+Venne,+«+Un+bonbon+pour+les+aînés+»

Editorial article, //Le Devoir,// 1996

585 C.C.Q.: Married or civil union spouses, and relatives in the direct line in the first degree, owe each other support.

Minister of Justice Begin is abolishing the obligation of support ("l'obligation alimentaire") owed by grandparents to grandchildren, found in art. 585.

Advantages: - Protects grandparents from humiliating judicial procedures - Stops infringing on grandparents often-meagre funds

Disadvantages: - Is but a small "candy" thrown to the elderly who, in recent times, have had many things imposed on them (an obligation to participate in medication insurance, etc) - It is destroying the 'social contract' each generation owes the next - Sends a signal that families only need to get along in their narrowest sense - Begin says the decision makes the law reflect social reality, but is the reality that grandparents see themselves as having no duties towards grandchildren?

Better solution: - To keep the obligation of support, but to limit it: At least in cases where the child had no other solutions, the protection would continue to exist.
 * to cases where the parents are incapable of paying for the child
 * to only cover the essential needs of the child
 * to take into account the financial capacity of the grandparent