This riveting case involves a decision by the Ontario Superior Court of Justice to change custody from a mother to a father amidst allegations of the father’s sexual abuse of the children. In addition, the decision saw a marked expansion of the role of mental health professionals by allowing a therapist to determine the mother’s [...]

This case involves an appeal by parents of a child that was made a Crown ward. BACKGROUND In March 2007, the child in this case was referred to the Suspected Child Abuse and Neglect Unit of the Hospital for Sick Children due to concern that she might be suffering from rickets. The Children’s Aid Society [...]

Though we rarely blog about child protection cases, the matter of Children’s Aid Society of Ottawa v. M. (E.S.) raised an interesting issue that sometimes arises in cases outside the “child protection” realm.  The issue is whether a parent should be permitted to call his child as a witness at trial.  In this instance, however, [...]

This case which was heard in Newmarket, Ontario, raises an interesting issue regarding whether or not custody arrangements can and should be changed prior to trial based on the recommendations of the OCL (Office of the Children’s Lawyer). In Winn v. Winn, the interim custody arrangement was that the two children were to reside with [...]