The Saskatchewan government has introduced new legislation aimed at improving the enforcement of child support orders both nationally and internationally.
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The Inter-Jurisdictional Support Orders Amendment Act, 2025 (Bilingual) implements the Hague Maintenance Convention on the International Recovery of Child Support and Other Forms of Family Maintenance.
The Convention establishes clear rules and a system of cooperation between participating countries to create, recognize, modify, and enforce child support orders and agreements.
Justice Minister and Attorney General Tim McLeod, K.C., said the legislation provides important tools for families navigating child support across borders.
“When separated families have connections across different countries, it can quickly become unclear what processes should be followed to resolve family law issues,” McLeod said.
“This legislation will provide additional tools to create and enforce child support orders across provincial and national boundaries, ensuring children are provided with the support they need to succeed in life.”
The new law allows the province to enforce child support orders made in other countries and ensures Saskatchewan orders can be enforced abroad. The Convention, established in 2013, has been signed by 56 countries, including nations in Europe, Australia, New Zealand, the Philippines, and the United States.
Canada ratified the Convention in October 2023, with provinces implementing it through their own legislation; Manitoba, Ontario, and British Columbia have already done so.
Saskatchewan also supports Canada’s participation in the Hague Conference, which promotes international cooperation in family law and civil procedures. In 2024, Saskatchewan and all other Canadian jurisdictions implemented the Hague Apostille Convention to simplify authentication of public documents for use abroad, such as birth certificates.
More information on Saskatchewan’s participation in the Hague Conference is available here.
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