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The Citizen, 2003-06-11, Page 20PAGE 20. THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 11, 2003. Blyth father fights for shared parenting in divorce By David Emslie Clinton News Record Many fathers will spend this Sunday enjoying time with their families on Father’s Day. However, there will also be many denied this right because of divorce. Statistics show that in the majori­ ty of cases, the mother of children in a divorced family has sole custody of the children. But Dennis Valenta is working to see that statistic change, as he and many other divorced fathers feel shared parent­ ing is important to the healthy devel­ opment of children. Valenta, of Blyth, a father of four children, is a member of Fathers Are Capable Too (FACT), “one of the largest non-custodial parents' and children’s rights organizations in Canada dealing with custody and access,” it is stated at their Web site, www.fact.on.ca “FACT is an organization of both men and women working to support our children's right to have a rela­ tionship with both parents. We are a not-for-profit non-custodial parents' and fathers' support and advocacy group.” The organization has been in exis­ tence for over 10 years, Valenta said, and he has been involved with FACT for about a year-and-a-half. “When you are happily married, you don’t look up those type of things,” he said, noting that while fathers often hear horror stories about having access to their children after divorce, they don’t always believe they are true. Often, though, they find later, he said, that “Good grief, those things are true. The court system is so corrupt and one­ sided.” It is the family court system that Valenta is working to see changed, through raising funds for FACT. Funds will be used, he said, to lobby the government for shared parent­ ing. Apart from raising funds to aid in the lobby, he has taken another step towards change by circulating a petition to the House of Commons in Parliament Assembled. The peti­ tion states, in part, “That the chil­ dren of divorces best interest is served by active and on-going con­ tact with both parents, not family law lawyers; that the treatment of parents and children by the courts must recognize the rights and responsibilities of all parties without discrimination based on race, gender or religions, and; that the additional billions of dollars of taxes taken under the guise of the current child support guidelines have served only to impoverish the children and par­ ents of divorce.” The petition calls upon parlia­ ment, “to modify legislation to ensure both parents are actively involved with their children after divorce through specifically defined shared parenting, and to modify the support guidelines and taxation sys­ tem be changed to ensure that child support payments are used only for the children of divorce...” Valenta has collected almost 2,000 signatures in communities across Huron and Bruce Counties, and has discovered, to his surprise, that it is easier to get women to sign than men. Women, he said, when signing the petition, have told him that their gender has too much power when it comes to divorce and child cus­ tody. Second wives of divorced men, he continued, are aware of the hard­ ships their husbands go through, such as when they go to pick up their children for visitation and the children are, “conveniently not there” he said. But Valenta is not concerned sole­ ly in the plight of divorced men - he is worried about the children. “Children need a mother and a father,” he said, citing statistics that show that children in a fatherless home are more likely to become juvenile delinquents and end up in trouble. Although he had no Canadian statistics available, he shared the following data from the U.S.: • 63 per cent of youth suicides are from fatherless homes (Source: U.S. DHHS, Bureau of Census) • 90 per cent of all homeless and runaway children are from fatherless home • 85 per cent of all children that exhibit behavioral disorders come from fatherless homes (Source: Centre for Disease Control) • 70 per cent of juveniles in state- operated institutions come from fatherless homes (Source: U.S. Dept, of Justice, Special Report, Sept. 1988) And while those statistics came from the U.S., Valenta said he believes the results would be similar in Canada, and they do show the need for two-parent families, whether those families are together or apart. “We need to recognize kids need a mom and a dad,” he said, adding it is a known fact that the best scenario for raising children is to have both a mom and dad at home, in a loving family relationship. But the next best scenario, he said, in a separated family, is to have parents who remain friendly, and allow children to move back and forth between par­ ents freely. North Huron seeks legal advice on Westario note By Bonnie Gropp Citizen editor North Huron council is seeking legal advice after Clerk- Administrator John Stewart deliv­ ered some disturbing information at the June 2 meeting. The problem has occurred as a result of North Huron’s request for a repayment of its shareholder’s note with Westario Power Corporation, in order to pay down the long-term debt on the North Huron Wescast Community Complex. With the dissolution of local pub­ lic utilities. Wingham had turned over its $2.4 million in electrical utility assets to Westario, a joint company set up by a number of local municipalities. Of this amount a certain percent­ age was taken out in cash. That left another figure in the working fund and a shareholder’s note in the amount of $879,682. The latter por­ tion could be withdrawn by the township, which would reduce their voting share in the company. North Huron had requested a par­ tial refund in the amount of $240,000. However, while the doc­ ument asking for the acknowledge­ ment of the repayment did not sur­ prise anyone the second document did. Westario, which as a private cor­ poration must operate on a debt equity ratio, is borrowing the money from the bank, and will pay the interest. However, the bank is requesting that North Huron sign an agreement saying that at any time should Westario default, North Huron will pay back the $240,000. Following a minute’s stunned silence, Councillor Archie McGowan asked if that term had been in the original agreement. “If not this is dirty pool.” “I don’t think it’s going to happen, but even 25 years from now, we could be on the hook for this money,” said Stewart. Another aspect of the guarantee troubled them as well. “It’s our money, yet they expect us to guaran­ Challenge: Eating Well Solution: No special diet is required! Eating well means... • following Canada’s Food Guide to Healthy Eating • enjoying a variety of different foods • emphasizing whole grain cereal, bread and other grain products, vegetables and fruit. • choosing lower fat dairy products, leaner meats, and foods prepared with little or no fat. • limiting intake of salt, alcohol and caffeine. tee our loan,” said Stewart. “Our infrastructure created this and we’re having to guarantee it.” While the consensus was that nothing could be done, council requested that Stewart seek legal advice. 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