74.16 Equity of Wife at Termination of Marriage by Divorce
Whereas, The necessary and legitimate labour involved in child rearing and homemaking are unpaid but are undertaken for many years by a married woman as a social and economic responsibility to her husband and to society, in spite of the fact that by separating herself from the legitimate labour market the married woman assumes a serious personal financial loss in the form of foregone current income, forgone labour market experience that would enhance future earnings, and foregone personal security for the future which can be built up in Canada only by participation in the legitimate labour market; and,
Whereas, These losses should be undertaken jointly by a man and his wife just as they should jointly share in the income earned by either in the legitimate labour market thereby giving to each spouse an equal equity in the marriage partnership; and,
Whereas, There is a significant economic contribution made to the state by the woman in the home, raising children and caring for other dependents which, even though unpaid, should be recognized by providing such labour with the same equity in the society to which paid labourers are already entitled; therefore be it,
RESOLVED, That The National Council of Women of Canada request the Government of Canada to amend Bill C187, an Act Respecting Divorce, to provide that in the event of divorce, provision must be made at the time the divorce is granted for an equal division of property acquired by the marriage unit during the years of marriage partnership, (i.e. earnings, savings, investments, including pension rights, excluding gifts and bequests made by a third party except where a previous contract exists.)