Do you need to know how the courts have ruled on a particular family law issue, or at least the cases that Judges are referred to?
There is a page on the Superior Court of Justice web site which has all of this information – a list of all of the cases broken down on a case by case basis.
That page is at http://www.ontariocourts.ca/scj/practice/practice-directions/list/#cpcl
The court goes out of its way to point out that this is not legal advice. In fact it may be the reverse, with people being inundated with cases, which have to be read for comprehension, understanding the “ratio decidendi” or deciding reasons of the case, and the “obiter dicta” or collateral comments on the law by the presiding Justices which may be a wish for the law to be particular way.
I am taking the liberty of reproducing the lists of Family Law Cases and the Child Protection Case List here.
In my volunteer life, I am the Chairman of the Welland County Law Association Library Committee, and I can say that most of you still will need the assistance of a lawyer or up to date Family Law Texts for interpretation of the cases, updating how the courts have interpreted these cases, and how these cases apply to your particular case.
You can of course purchase your own Family Law Library. A good Family Law Library will set you back between $500.00 to $5,000.00 and there may be an annual subscription cost, which your lawyer already pays, but who am I to dissuade you from purchasing law books from Carswell Publishing, when the same money would get you actual competent legal representation?
I also note that these lists are current only to June 2015. Some of the cases may have new interpretations, have been distinguished, or have been overruled.
Back to the Topic at Hand – the lists are:
Family List of Cases
This list contains certain frequently relied on cases which are supplied to judges hearing family law cases in the Superior Court of Justice in the Central West, Central South, North West, South West, and Toronto Regions, as directed by the provisions in the Consolidated Provincial Practice Direction that address often cited family law cases.
The cases in question appear on this list under various headings or topics which are not in any way intended to provide legal advice.
Parties in family law proceedings in the Superior Court of Justice in the Central West, Central South, North West, South West, and Toronto Regions need no longer include authorities on this list in any book of authorities relied on. However, extracts from those authorities which counsel intend to refer to the court shall be included in the factum or book of authorities.
Family Law Cases
Family Law Appeals Case List Updates
Child Protection Case List
Family Law Cases
Parenting
- Gordon v. Goertz,[1996] 2 S.C.R. 27 (mobility, best interests of the child, variation of custody and access orders, material change in circumstances)
- Young v. Young,[1993] 4 S.C.R. 3 (religion, rights of an access parent, best interests of the child)
- Kaplanis v. Kaplanis (2005),249 D.L.R. (4th) 620 (Ont. C.A.) (joint custody, best interests of the child)
- Ladisa v. Ladisa (2005),193 O.A.C. 336 (C.A.)
- Linton v. Clarke (1994),21 O.R. (3d) 568 (Div. Ct.) (assessments)
Child Support
- B.S. v. S.R.G.; L.J.W. v. T.A.R.; Henry v. Henry; Hiemstra v. Hiemstra,2006 SCC 37 (retroactive child support)
- Lewi v. Lewi (2006),80 O.R. (3d) 321 (C.A.) (child support for adult children)
- Park v. Thompson (2005),77 O.R. (3d) 601 (C.A.) (adult children)
- Francis v. Baker,[1999] 3 S.C.R. 250 (section 4 of the Guidelines)
- R. R. (2002), 58 O.R. (3d) 656 (C.A.) (section 4 of the Guidelines)
- Contino v. Leonelli-Contino,2005 SCC 63 (child support where both parents have the children more than 40% of the time)
- Mehling v. Mehling, 2008 MBCA 66 (section 9 of the Guidelines)
- Froom v. Froom (2004),C.W.S. (3d) 331 (section 9 of the Guidelines)
- Maultsaid v. Blair, 2009 BCCA 102(section 9 of the Guidelines)
- (L.) v. C.(M.), 2013 ONSC 1801(section 9 of the Guidelines)
- Chartier v. Chartier,[1999] 1 S.C.R. 242 (child support payable by a step-parent)
- Ewing v. Ewing,2009 ABCA 227, leave to appeal to SCC refused [2009] S.C.C.A. No. 386 (section 4 of the Guidelines)
- Tauber v. Tauber (2000),48 O.R. (3d) 577 (C.A.) (section 4 of the Guidelines)
- Tauber v. Tauber (2001),203 D.L.R. (4th) 168 (Ont. Sup. Ct.) (section 4 of the Guidelines and spousal support)
- Drygala v. Pauli (2002),61 O.R. (3d) 711 (C.A.) (section 19 of Guidelines, intentional underemployment)
- DiFrancesco v. Couto (2001),56 O.R. (3d) 363 (C.A.) (rescission of arrears)
- Senos v.Karcz,2014 ONCA 459 (child support for ODSP recipients)
Spousal Support
- Miglin v. Miglin,2003 SCC 24 (spousal support in the face a spousal support release)
- Fisher v. Fisher,2008 ONCA 11 (the Spousal Support Advisory Guidelines)
- Bracklow v. Bracklow,[1999] 1 S.C.R. 420 (entitlement to spousal support)
- Boston v. Boston,2001 SCC 413 (pensions and “double dipping”)
- Willick v. Willick,[1994] 3 S.C.R. 670 (variation of support orders, material change in circumstances)
- Moge v. Moge,[1992] 3 S.C.R. 813 (entitlement to spousal support, objectives of spousal support, self-sufficiency)
- Davis v. Crawford,2011 ONCA 294 (broadens the circumstances in which lump sum spousal support payments can be awarded)
Variations and Material Change
- Willick v. Willick, [1994] 3 S.C.R. 670(variation of support orders, material change in circumstances)
- M.P. v. L.S.,2011 SCC 43
Property
- Stone v. Stone (2001),55 O.R. (3d) 491 (C.A.) (equalization of net family property, unequal division of net family property)
- Rawluk v. Rawluk,[1990] 1 S.C.R. 70 (equalization of net family property, resulting trusts, constructive trusts)
- Peter v. Beblow,[1993] 1 S.C.R. 980 (constructive trusts)
- Serra v. Serra,2009 ONCA 105(unequal division of net family property)
- Levan v. Levan,2008 ONCA 388 (setting aside domestic contracts, unequal division of net family property), leave to appeal to SCC refused ([2008] S.C.C.A. No. 331)
- Czieslik v. Ayuso,2007 ONCA 305 (unequal division of net family property)
Marriage Contracts
- Hartshorne v. Hartshorne,2004 SCC 22
- Le Van v.Le Van,2008 ONCA 388, leave to appeal to SCC refused [2008] S.C.C.A. No. 331.
Separation Agreements and Disclosure Obligations
- Rick v. Brandsema,2009 SCC 10.
- Marinangeli v. Marinangeli (2003),66 O.R. (3d) 40 (C.A.).
Experts
- Westerhof v. Gee Estate,2015 ONCA 206
Summary Judgment
- Hryniak v. Mauldin, 2014 SCC 7
Interim Costs and Disbursements
- British Columbia (Minister of Forests) v. Okanagan Indian Band,2003 SCC 71
- Biddle v. Biddle (2005),13 R.F.L. (6th) 63 (Ont. Sup. Ct.)
- Stuart v. Stuart2001 CanLii 28261 (Ont. Sup. Ct.)
Partition and Sale
- Latcham v. Latcham (2002),27 R.F.L. (5th) 358 (Ont. C.A.)
- Silva v. Silva(1990), 1 O.R. (3d) 436 (C.A.)
- Martin v. Martin(1992), 8 O.R. (3d) 41 (C.A.)
- Batler v. Batler(1988), 67 O.R. (2d) 355 (Ont. C.J.)
Occupation Rent
- Griffiths v. Zambosco (2001),54 O.R. (3d) 397 (C.A.)
- Higgins v. Higgins (2001),19 R.F.L. (5th) 300 (Ont. Sup. Ct.)
The Trust Doctrines
- Rawluk v. Rawluk,[1990] 1 S.C.R. 70
- Pettkus v. Becker,[1980] 2 S.C.R. 834
- Peter v. Beblow,[1993] 1 S.C.R. 980
- Campbell v. Campbell (1999),43 O.R. (3d) 783 (C.A.)
- Kerr v. Baranow,2011 SCC 10 (clarifies the law on constructive and resulting trusts and unjust enrichment on the breakdown of domestic partnerships)
- McConnell v. Huxtable,2014 ONCA 86
- Martin v. Sansome, 2014 ONCA 192
Preservation Orders
- Lasch v. Lasch(1988), 64 O.R. (2d) 464 (H.C.J.)
- Bronfman v. Bronfman (2000),51 O.R. (3d) 336 (Ont. Sup. Ct.)
Prejudgment and Postjudgment Interest
- Debora v. Debora (2006),83 O.R. (3d) 81 (C.A.)
- Burgess v. Burgess (1995), 24 O.R. (3d) 547 (C.A.)
- LeVan v. LeVan,2008 ONCA 388, application for leave to appeal to the Supreme Court of Canada dismissed [2008] S.C.C.A. No. 331.
Costs
- Serra v. Serra,2009 ONCA 395.
- Islam v. Rahman,2007 ONCA 622.
- ( A.C.) v. M.(D.)(2003), 67 O.R. (3d) 181 (C.A.)
- Boucher v. Public Accountants Council for Ontario (2004),71 O.R. (3d) 291 (C.A.)
- Fong v. Chan(1999), 46 O.R. (3d) 330 (C.A.)
- Biant v. Sagoo (2001),20 R.F.L. (5th) 284 (Ont. Sup. Ct.)
- Fong v. Chan, 2001 CanLII 7484(Ont. C.A.)
- Cindy Jahn-Cartwright v. John Cartwright,2010 ONSC 2263
- Cassidy v. Cassidy,2011 ONSC 791
- Jordan v. Stewart, 2013 ONSC 5037
Motions Before Case Conferences
- Rosen v. Rosen (2005),2005 CanLII 480 (Ont. Sup. Ct.)
Hague Cases
- Thomson v. Thomson,[1994] 3 S.C.R. 551 (interpretation and application of Convention, wrongful removal)
- v. M.,2002 NSCA 127 (child’s objection)
- Jabbaz v. Mouammar (2003),226 D.L.R. (4th) 494 (Ont. C.A.) (harm threshold)
- Chan v. Chow,2001 BCCA 276 (habitual residence)
- Korutowska-Wooff v. Wooff (2004),242 D.L.R. (4th) 385 (Ont. C.A.) (habitual residence)
- Katsigiannis v. Kottick-Katsigiannis (2001),55 O.R. (3d) 456 (C.A.), (subjective approach to acquiescence)
- Finizio v. Scoppio-Finizio (1999),46 O.R. (3d) 226 (C.A.) (adjustment periods)
- Pollastro v. Pollastro (1999),43 O.R. (3d) 485 (C.A.) (determination of risk of harm)
- Beatty v. Schatz,2009 BCSC 707 (child to meet with psychologist), aff’d 2009 BCCA 310
- Ellis v. Wentzell-Ellis,2010 ONCA 347
Declaration of Parentage Cases
- Trociuk v. British Columbia (Attorney General),2003 SCC 34 (unconstitutional for legislation to allow arbitrary exclusion of father from birth registration process, significance of fathers’ interests and dignity)
- A. v. B.B.,2007 ONCA 2 (declaration of third parent pursuant to parens patriae jurisdiction, importance of declaration)
- Raft v. Shortt (1986),54 O.R. (2d) 768 (Ont. C.J.) (no declaration of non-parentage under CLRA but available under CJA, issue estoppel, blood tests)
- R. v. L.H., [2002] O.T.C. 764 (Ont. Sup. Ct.) (surrogacy, birth registration, custody, declaration of non-parentage under CJA, best interests of the child, sealing court file)
- D.L. v. L.R.L. (1994),114 D.L.R.(4th) 709 (Ont. Sup. Ct.) (anonymous sperm donor, standing in the place of a parent, CLRA declaration, access)
- Rypkema v. British Columbia,2003 BCSC 1784 (surrogacy, birth registration, genetic parents)
- S.K. v. T.L.T.(2003), 168 O.A.C. 73 (C.A.) (sealing court file, best interests of the child)
- v. P.(1982), 35 O.R. (2d) 325 (Ont. Sup. Ct.) (support, delaying exchange of financial information, sealing court file)
Family Law Appeals Case List Updates
Standard of Review
- Housen v. Nikolaisen,2002 SCC 33 [Standard of review is palpable and overriding error.]
- (H.) v. Canada (Attorney General),2005 SCC 25
Deference
- (G.C.) v. New Brunswick (Minister of Health and Community Services),[1998] 1 S.C.R. 1073[Deference should be given to trial judge.]
- New Brunswick (Minister of Health and Community Services) v. L. (M.),[1998] 2 S.C.R. 534 [Deference should be given to trial judge.]
- Hickey v. Hickey,[1999] 2 S.C.R. 518 [Need for deference in family law cases.]
Duty to Give Reasons
- v. Sheppard, 2002 SCC 26[Why a duty to give reasons.]
- Lawson v. Lawson(2006), 81 O.R. (3d) 321 (C.A.) [Tension between right to adequate reasons and deference.]
- Young v. Young(2003), 63 O.R. (3d) 112 (C.A.) [Rationale for the need to give reasons in family law context.]
Adequacy of Reasons
- v. Sheppard,2002 SCC 26 [Functional test.]
- v. Gagnon,2006 SCC 17 [Two stage analysis for functional test.]
Appeal of Costs
- Mete v. Guardian Insurance Co. of Canada(1998), 165 D.L.R. (4th) 457 (Ont. C.A.) [High discretion given to costs award.]
- Hamilton v. Open Window Bakery Ltd.,2004 SCC 9 [Costs award should only be set aside if there is an error in principle or award is plainly wrong.]
Reasonable Apprehension of Bias
- Children’s Aid Society of the Regional Municipality of Waterloo v. R.C.,2009 ONCA 840 [Active participation of trial judge in child protection case does not necessarily indicate bias.]
- v. S. (R.D.) 1997 CanLii 324 SCC
- Committee for Justice and Liberty v. National Energy Board[1978] 1 S.C.R. 369
- Wewaykum Indian Band v. Canada2003 SCC 45
Appeal from an Interim Order
- Sypher v. Sypher(1986), 2 R.F.L. (3d) 413 (Ont. C.A.) [The court should not interfere with an interim order unless the order is clearly wrong and exceeds the wide ambit of reasonable solutions.]
Fresh Evidence on Appeal
- Catholic Children’s Aid Society of Metropolitan Toronto v. M. (C.),[1994] 2 S.C.R. 165 [Test for the admission of fresh evidence on appeal.]
- v. Palmer, [1980]1 S.C.R. 759
Child Protection Case List
Interpretation
- Catholic Children’s Aid Society of Metropolitan Toronto v. M. (C.),[1994] 2 S.C.R. 165 [Mandate of the Child and Family Services Act, but decision is pre-amendment to S.1 of the Act.]
- Syl Apps Secure Treatment v. B.D.,2007 SCC 38 [Section 1 was amended to separate and give priority to the legislation’s paramount purpose to promote the best interests, protection and well-being of children.]
Jurisdiction
- Winnipeg Child & Family Services (Northwest Area) v. G. (D.F.),[1997] 3 S.C.R. 925 [The parens patriae jurisdiction of the court does not extend to unborn children and thus cannot support the detention order of an expectant mother.]
- (C.) v. Catholic Children’s Aid Society of Hamilton-Wentworth(1998), 40 O.R. (3d) 334 (C.A.) [The procedure under the Child and Family Services Act is paramount thereby precluding an order for custody under the CLRA of a Crown Ward.]
Onus of Proof
Temporary Care and Custody Hearings (s. 51)
- Children’s Aid Society of London and Middlesex v. T.(A) and D. (N.), 2001 CanLII 37748(Ont. Sup. Ct.) [Test in a temporary care and custody hearing is a “likelihood” of harm, met on a balance of probabilities.]
- Children’s Aid Society of Ottawa-Carleton v. T. (2000),2000 CanLII 21157 (Ont. Sup. Ct.) [Test for temporary care and custody requires CAS to establish, on credible and trustworthy evidence, reasonable grounds to believe that there is a real possibility that, if the child is returned to his or her parents, it is more probable than not that he or she will suffer harm.]
- Children’s Aid Society of Waterloo (Regional Municipality) v. B.A. (2004),2004 CanLII 12742 (Ont. Sup. Ct.) [Test for making a temporary placement order with a third party is a reasonable likelihood of risk on something less than the ordinary civil onus of proof on the balance of probabilities.]
- Durham Children’s Aid Society v. A.M.K. and M., 2002 CanLII 61270(Ont. Sup. Ct.) [Test for interim order under s. 51 listed in ascending order of intrusiveness for return with or without supervision or placement with third party in the community.]
- Catholic Children’s Aid Society of Toronto v. M. (C),2003 CanLII 54589 (Ont. Sup. Ct.) [Test for temporary care placement requires a reasonably grounded belief about the risk of harm that rises above the level of speculation.]
- Children’s Aid Society of Niagara Region v. M. (L) (2006),2006 CanLII 27227 (Ont. Sup. Ct.) [Test for temporary care and custody requires CAS to establish a risk of harm that cannot be adequately protected against by returning the child to a parent.]
- Children’s Aid Society of Brant v. M.S.,[2008] O.J. No. 5299 (Ont. Sup. Ct.) [Temporary care and custody requires CAS to prove it is more probable than not that the children would suffer harm and cannot be otherwise protected.]
Variation of orders pending trial
- Children’s Aid Society v. E.L.,[2003] O.T.C. 755 (Ont. Sup. Ct.) [There can be no variation of a temporary care order without a material change in circumstances.]
- Children’s Aid Society of the County of Simcoe v. B. (B.J.), (2005),20 R.F.L. (6th) 74 (Ont. Sup. Ct.) [Variation of a temporary care order is a two-stage process. The party wishing the changes must show: (a) that there has been a material change; (b) if there has been a material change, the court must consider the situation using the same risk criteria set out in s. 51.]
- Children’s Aid Society of Metropolitan Toronto v. C.Y. (1993), R.F.L. (3d) 24, (Ont. Div. Ct.) [On an adjournment of a status review application and a request for a change in interim care and custody pending trial, the test is best interests and not the risk test set out in section 51.]
Final Disposition
- H. v. McDougall, 2008 SCC 53 [There is only one standard of proof in a civil case and that is proof on a balance of probabilities. There are no degrees of probability within that civil standard.]
- Children’s Aid Society of the Niagara Region v. P.L.R.,[2005] O.T.C. 255 (Ont. Sup. Ct.) [The onus is on the CAS and while the evidence must be convincing, the ordinary civil burden has not been changed.]
- Re Brown, (1976) 9 O.R. (2d) 185 [Intervention is only justified when the level of care falls below that which no child in this country should be subjected to.]
- Catholic Children’s Aid Society of Hamilton v. J.I. (2006),2006 CanLII 19432 (Ont. Sup. Ct.) [Should not to judge parent by a middle-class yardstick, one that imposes unrealistic and unfair middle-class standards of child care upon a poor parent of extremely limited potential, provided that the standard used is not contrary to the child’s best interests.]
Procedural Issues
- Children’s Aid Society of London and Middlesex v. H. (S),[2002] O.T.C. 916 (Ont. Sup. Ct.) [Parties to a child protection case are not limited by the legislation and may be supplemented by the Court.]
- (C.) v. Catholic Children’s Aid Society of Hamilton-Wentworth (1998),40 O.R. (3d) 334 (Ont. Sup Ct.) [Foster parents may not apply for a status review hearing.]
- Catholic Children’s Aid Society of Toronto v. B. (D.),2002 CanLII 53290 (Ont. C.A.) [The test for leave to withdraw.]
Time Line Restrictions
- Children’s Aid Society of Ottawa-Carleton v. K.F. (2003),123 A.C.W.S. (3d) 705 (Ont. Sup. Ct.) [The court’s discretion to extend the statutory time limit that a child can be in care under s. 70(4) of the legislation must be based on the best interests of the child.]
Appointing Counsel
For parents
- Family and Children’s Services of Rainy River v. C.J.S.,2010 ONCJ 75 [A minor parent is to be represented by OCL and this should not be lightly overridden without a request to do otherwise that is supported by a factual base for the court to exercise its discretion in that way.]
For the subject children
- R. v. Children’s Aid Society of Hamilton(2004), 70 O.R. (3d) 618 (Ont. Sup. Ct.) [Court may direct counsel be appointed for child under C.F.S.A., which is different than a referral to the OCL for consideration under the CLRA.]
Statutory Pathway For Protection Hearing
- (R.) v. Children’s Aid Society of Metropolitan Toronto(1995), 21 O.R. (3d) 724 (Ont. Sup.Ct.) [Importance of considering family/community placements and less restrictive alternatives throughout.]
Protection Findings
- Children’s Aid Society of the Niagara Region v. T.P.(2003), 35 R.F.L. (5th) 290 (Ont. Sup. Ct.) [(a) Intention is not required to prove risk of likely harm; (b) Harm must be more than trifling; (c) The finding is based on the situation at the time of apprehension.]
- Children’s Aid Society of Hamilton v. C.(M.) (2003),36 R.F.L. (5th) 46 (Ont. Sup. Ct.) [The relevant time for making a protection finding is not limited to the time of the apprehension and the initiation of the case.]
- Jewish Family and Child Service v. K. (R.), 2008 ONCJ 774[Domestic violence places a child at risk of harm.]
- Children and Family Services for York Region v. A.S.(2009), 79 R.F.L. (6th) 282 (Ont. Sup. Ct.) [The emotional harm to a child need not be intentional or an intentional failure to act, provided that the act is causally connected to the harm sustained by the child.]
- Children’s Aid Society of the Niagara Region v. T.P. (2003),35 R.F.L. (5th) 290(Ont. Sup. Ct.) [The CAS need not prove an intention to cause physical harm.]
Status Review Hearings
- Catholic Children’s Aid Society of Toronto v. M.(C.), [1994] 2 S.C.R. 165[Court’s function on a status review hearing; Status review hearing is a two part process.]
- Catholic Children’s Aid Society of Hamilton v. M.A.M.(2003), [2003] O.J. No. 1274 (Ont. Sup. Ct.) [The repealing of subsection 65(3) is consistent with the overall thrust of the amendments which focus the Court’s attention on the child in preference to the parent]
- Children’s Aid Society of Ottawa v. C.W. (2008),2008 CanLII 13181 (Ont. Sup. Ct.) [A status review hearing cannot retry the original need for a protection order. The issue is whether the child continues to be in need of protection and, if so, what order is in the best interests of the child.]
- Children’s Aid Society of the Region of Peel v. M.J.W. (1995),23 O.R. (3d) 174 (C.A.) [Role of familial plans in status review hearings as they relate to the least restrictive placement concept.]
Evidentiary Issues
- v. Khan,[1990] 2 S.C.R. 531 [Ability of child to testify and when to accept evidence of child’s spontaneous statements.]
- v. Blackman,2008 SCC 37 [Principled approach to the admissibility of hearsay evidence.]
- Stefureak v. Chambers (2006),6 R.F.L. (6th) 212 (Ont. Sup. Ct.) [Admissibility of hearsay evidence of a child’s out-of-court statements is governed by necessity and reliability.]
- E.C. v. G.P (2003),41 R.F.L. (5th) 250 (Ont. Sup. Ct.) [Considerations governing the compelled testimony of a child.]
- Children’s Aid society of Toronto v. L.L.,2010 ONCJ 48 [Admissibility of first-hand hearsay business records is governed by relevancy.]
- Children’s Aid Society of the Regional Municipality of Waterloo v. C. (R.),1994 CanLII 4520 (Ont. C.J.) [Boundaries for evidence on past parenting conduct.]
- Children’s Aid Society of Niagara Region v. D.P. (2003),36 R.F.L. (5th) 265 (Ont. Sup. Ct.) [If adoptability is an issue, expert evidence is required.]
- (R.) v. Children’s Aid Society of the Niagara Region(2002), 34 R.F.L. (5th) 44 (Ont. C.A.) [The Act does not envisage a contest between members of a child’s family and a foster parent at a hearing to declare whether the child should be declared to be a society or Crown ward.]
Access
- Children’s Aid Society of Niagara Region v. J.C.(2007), 281 D.L.R. (4th) 328 (Ont. C.A.)
[(a) Presumptive burden of proof against access to a Crown Ward;
(b) Person seeking access must prove that relationship is beneficial and meaningful to child based on relationship that exists at the time of trial and not one that is hoped for in the future.] - Children’s Aid Society of Ottawa v. C. W.(2008), 2008 CanLII 13181 (Ont. Sup. Ct.) [Onus on parent to obtain access to a Crown Ward.]
- Children’s Aid Society of Toronto v. D.P.(2005), 19 R.F.L. (6th) 267 (Ont. C.A.) [Even where a Crown wardship order gives no right of access to a parent, the CAS may, as a custodial parent of the child, permit the parent to visit the child unless the order expressly states that there will be no contact.]
Charter Issues
- Winnipeg Child and Family Services v. K.L.W.,2000 SCC 48 [State apprehensions without prior judicial authorization in non-emergency situations do not violate s. 7 of the Charter, so long as there is a prompt post-apprehension hearing.]
- (R.) v. Children’s Aid Society of Metropolitan Toronto,[1995] 1 S.C.R. 315 [Crown wardship violates parents’ s. 7 rights to refuse medical treatment for their child, but does not violate the principles of fundamental justice.]
- C. v. Manitoba (Director of Child and Family Services), 2009 SCC 30[Court’s ability to mandate treatment for children under 16 years of age does not violate ss. 2(a), 7, or 15 of the Charter.]
- New Brunswick (Minister of Health and Community Services) v. G.(J.),[1999] 3 S.C.R. 46 [State-funded counsel required by s. 7 in the context of custody proceedings involving the state.]
- Catholic Children’s Aid Society of Metropolitan Toronto v. M.(C.), [1994] 2 S.C.R. 165[Section 11(b) of the Charter does not apply to the Child and Family Services Act.]
- Catholic Children’s Aid Society of Metropolitan Toronto v. S.(1989), 69 O.R. (2d) 189 (Ont. C.A.) [Denial of birth parent’s access to child after adoption is constitutional.]
Summary Judgment Motions
- Children’s Aid Society of Toronto v. T. (K.) (2000),2000 CanLII 20578 (Ont. C.J.) [Where a prima facie case for summary judgment is made out, the responding party must present evidence to show there is a genuine issue for trial.]
- Children’s Aid Society of Toronto v. R.H.(2000), 2000 CanLII 3158 (Ont. C.J.) [Specific facts reflecting a genuine issue for trial must be provided, not simply a heartfelt expression of a desire to resume care of the child.] [Mere denials do not raise triable issue of fact.]
- Children’s Aid Society of the Regional Municipality of Waterloo v. R.S.,[2007] O.J. No. 1527 (Ont. Sup. Ct.) [The court must review the entire evidentiary record in deciding whether a genuine issue for trial exists.]
- A. v. Jewish Family and Child Services, [2001] O.J. No. 47 [Not every disputed fact or question gives rise to a finding that there is a genuine issue for trial.]
- B. v. S.G.(2001), 199 D.L.R. (4th) 554 (Ont. Sup. Ct.) [A “genuine issue” must relate to a material fact or facts.]
- Children’s Aid Society of Nipissing v. M. (M.) (1999),[1999] O.J. No. 5720 (Ont. Sup. Ct.) [A summary of the principles applicable to summary judgment motions.]
- C.J.-R v. Children’s Aid Society of Oxford County, 2003 CanLII 2388(Ont. Sup. Ct.) [« aucune véritable question litigieuse » équivaut à « aucune chance de réussite » et « il est évident que l’action ne va pas réussir ».]
- Catholic Children’s Aid Society of Metropolitan Toronto v. O. (L.M.),1995 CanLII 6216 (Ont. Sup. Ct.) [Summary judgment can be ordered when the outcome is a foregone conclusion.]
Appeals
- Housen v. Nikolaisen,2002 SCC 33 [Standard of review of law, fact, and mixed law and fact on appeal.]
- Children’s Aid Society of Toronto v. C. (S.A.),2005 CanLII 43289 (Ont. S.C.), affirmed on appeal, 2007 ONCA 474 [Standard of review in family law cases.]
- Genereux v. Catholic Children’s Aid Society of Metropolitan Toronto,(1985) 53 O.R. (2d) 163 (Ont. C.A.) [Appeal court judge is granted a “wide discretion” in deciding whether or not to admit further evidence.]
- Catholic Children’s Aid Society of Metropolitan Toronto v. M. (C.), [1994] 2 S.C.R. 165[Admission of fresh evidence on appeal.]
- B. v. S.G. (2001),199 D.L.R. (4th) 554 (Ont. Sup. Ct.) [The standard of review on an appeal from a court initiated summary judgment motion is correctness.]
- C. v. Catholic Children’s Aid Society of Metropolitan Toronto,2002 CanLII 2672 (Ont. Sup. Ct.) [Reasonable apprehension of bias and trial fairness.]
- (R.) v. Children’s Aid Society of Metropolitan Toronto(1995), 21 O.R. (3d) 724 (Ont. Sup. Ct.) [Appeal court may substitute the order when determining the appeal.]
- Children’s Aid Society of Toronto v. L.U. (2008),56 R.F.L. (6th) 186 (Ont. S.C.) [Court’s decisions on s. 70(4) extensions are discretionary, and reviewable on the standard of palpable and overriding error.]
Costs
- (R.) v. Children’s Aid Society of the Niagara Region(2003), 34 R.F.L. (5th) 62 (Ont. C.A.) [It is not usual for costs to be awarded in Child protection cases where an applicant is unsuccessful. Where unsuccessful parties are motivated by the best interests of the children a “no costs” award may be appropriate.]
- Children’s Aid Society of Ottawa-Carleton v. S.,(2003), 39 R.F.L. (5th) 209 (Ont. Div. Ct.)
(a) The rationale for making child protection cases an exception to the presumptive entitlement to costs stems from the fact that a Society has a statutory obligation to initiate and pursue proceedings where there is reason to believe a child is in need of protection and it should not be dissuaded from the pursuit of its statutory mandate by cost considerations.
(b) The wording of Rule 24 (2) is unequivocal that the presumptive entitlement to costs does not apply in a child protection cases. Consequently, even between parents, for costs to be awarded there must be something more than merely the outcome of the case.] - Children’s Aid Society of Ottawa-Carleton v. MR. and MS. V.(2001), 2001 CanLII 37747 (Ont. Sup. Ct.) [CAS should not be penalized for attempting to fulfill its mandate, unless they have acted in some indefensible manner. They are not ordinary litigants.]
Current as of June 2015