Denial of Parenting Time

Denial of parenting time refers to situations where a parent doesn't allow the other parent to spend time with the child, as previously agreed upon or ordered by the court. It's important to note that neither the Children’s Law Reform Act, R.S.O. 1990, c. C.12 (the “CLRA”), nor the Divorce Act, R.S.C. 1985 (2nd Supp.), c. 3, contain any specific provision for denying access.

Suppose a parent believes that it's not in the child's best interests to spend time with the other parent. In that case, they should seek a Decision-Making/parenting time order with a no-parenting-time provision or with a parenting time order in their discretion provision. However, this is rarely granted and only in circumstances where there is clearly no benefit to the child to have parenting time with the other parent.