Premier Stephen McNeil wants support from premiers on child support

When Canada's premiers gatherin Newfoundland next week, Nova ScotiaPremier Stephen McNeil says hismain sticking point will beabout child support and deadbeat parents.

McNeil says he will be voicing his concernsthat too many people are skipping out on their child support payments andthatit's too easy to hide out by leaving the province.

Right now,more than $60million ofchild support payments are in arrearsin Nova Scotia, and 65 per cent of those who owe money are not inthe province up from 58 per cent in 2014.

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"We need to make sure that when the court determines a particular parent owes maintenance for their children, that we have put in place all the protocols required to ensure that maintenance is paid regardless of what province or where that person is working," said McNeil.

Chasing after child support payments or maintenance enforcement is back in the spotlightafter a Nova Scotiajudge recently issued a warrant for the arrest of Vrege Armoyan, a Halifax developer who left the country before being found guilty of failing to pay $1.7million dollars in child and spousal support.

The provincialgovernment is looking to tighten up the rules to force those who shirk their responsibilities to pay up.

Although maintenance orders can be enforced outside the province where the caregiving parent lives, the challenge is tracking down the deadbeats.

McNeil thinks it should be easier, which is why he's trying to enlist the help of the other first ministers.

"Making sure there's no impediments across jurisdictions when it comes to enforcing child maintenance enforcement orders," said McNeil.