The new family law act before the legislature defines what counts as "excluded property" during a divorce in a way that MLA Ralph Sultan colourfully explained this week.

"I'll use another, maybe old-fashioned, example," the MLA for West Vancouver-Capilano told the house Nov. 17, as recorded in the Hansard. "I don't know if you've seen these old cartoons of some rich sugar daddy with a lot of money, and some 17-year-old showgirl shows up on his arm. Who knows? We see this stuff going on in Italy all the time, it seems, at the highest levels ...

"I'm sure that young lady isn't necessarily interested in how handsome and virile her new partner is. She also has her eye on some assets," he said. "But guess what. Under the new law, all those assets that came into the union are excluded. She's out of luck."

While the clause might appear to be protecting wealthy older men, Sultan said the change may make it more difficult for those men to find a date. "I think it's going to make this a lot harder for us old guys to attract the interest of younger ladies. But so much the better."

The clause, which is just one among many in the wide ranging legislation, will receive a lot of attention in West Vancouver, he said.

Andrew MacLeod is The Tyee’s Legislative Bureau Chief in Victoria. Reach him here.