By Maria Golarz, Senior Associate Research Lawyer, Lam Family Law*

Looking for some key child protection cases from 2024 to keep in your back pocket?

The following annotated list will help you navigate the legislation and highlights some key 2024 cases to read (or re-read). For the cases, the annotations include paragraph links to CanLII and annotations in bullets to explain the main issue addressed (i.e., why you should look at this case).

Relevant Legislation

1.    Child, Youth and Family Services Act, 2017, SO 2017, c 14, Sch 1 (“CYFSA”).
2.    Family Law Rules, O Reg 114/99 (“FLR”).
3.    An Act respecting First Nations, Inuit and Métis children, youth and families, 2019, SC 2019, c 24 (“Federal Act”).

Enforcement Motions

4.    Children’s Aid Society of Toronto v. R.I., 2024 ONCA 93 (CanLII), Nordheimer J.A., for the panel.

  • Trial judges retain jurisdiction to hear enforcement motions: paras 22-28.
  • Under the FLR, R. 1(8) motions to enforce can be brought in child protection proceedings: paras 10-14, 28, & 30.
  • Test for reasonable apprehension of bias reviewed: paras 18-21.

         Read our previous blog post on this case here.

Timing Issues: e.g. Delay, Counting Days, Adjournments, Time Limits, Extending Time

5.    Sarnia-Lambton Children’s Aid Society v. N.S., 2024 ONCJ 391 (CanLII), Pawagi J.

  • Noteworthy comments on delay in child protection proceedings and “10 concrete actions” to avoid it: paras 280-286.

6.    Two (conflicting) Ontario Court of Justice cases that deal with counting days:

  • Method of counting days as per R. 3(2) of the FLR does apply to CYFSA matters: paras 8-15.
  • Failure in first apprehension to abide by timelines set out in s. 88 of the CYFSA did not thwart court’s jurisdiction following second apprehension: paras 26-36.
    b.    Children’s Aid Society of the Districts of Sudbury and Manitoulin v. K.P., 2024 ONCJ 180 (CanLII), Jenner J.
  • Method of counting days as per R. 3(2) of the FLR does not apply to CYFSA matters: paras 1-5.
  • Weekends count when counting days under s. 88 of the CYFSA: paras 14-56.

7.    Children’s Aid Society of the Niagara Region v. Tanguay et al., 2024 CanLII 27335 (ON SC), MacNeil J.

  • Extending time to apply for openness orders; application of parens patriae: paras 14-23, 26-37; & 41-44.

8.    A. K. v. Family and Children’s Services of Guelph and Wellington County, 2024 ONSC 296 (CanLII), Petersen J.

  • Unsuccessful appeal from summary judgment motion dealing with denial of adjournment request: paras 20-35.
  • Alleged reliance on inadmissible hearsay: paras 36-47.
  • Alleged misapplication of s.122(1) of CYFSA [time limits for interim society care]: paras 48-54.

Transfer of Venue

9.    Children’s Aid Society of Toronto v. H.G., 2024 ONCJ 337 (CanLII), Sherr J.

  • Overview of relevant legal considerations for transfer motions; transfer ordered: paras 37-45 & 56.

10.    CAS v. B.T. and R.C. et al, 2024 ONSC 2238 (CanLII), Daurio J.

  • Society lacked territorial jurisdiction where child did not reside in and was not present in jurisdiction, and was not in immediate danger; transfer ordered: paras 30-49 & 59.

11.    The Children’s Aid Society of Ottawa. v. L.M-L.B. et al., 2024 ONSC 348 (CanLII), Audet J.

  • Court cannot transfer proceedings outside of Ontario; Society can, subject to internal procedures and policies; no transfer ordered: paras 13-18.

Other Procedural Issues

12.    Children’s Aid Society of Algoma v. C.D., 2024 ONCJ 167 (CanLII), Mendes J.

  • Unsuccessful motion by parent for access to information relating to child: paras 3 & 18-29.

13.    Children’s Aid Society of the Districts of Sudbury and Manitoulin v. P.B., 2024 ONCJ 621 (CanLII), Jenner J.

  • Notice to children over 12 years of age, party status: paras 3-10.

14.    Nogdawindamin Family and Community Services v. J.N., 2024 ONCJ 376 (CanLII), Jenner J.

  • Various issues arising with self-represented litigants, including challenge to jurisdiction: paras 21-25, last-minute trial adjournment request: paras 26-30, phone communication during trial: paras 36-43, and evidence admissibility concerns: paras 48-56.

15.    Children and Family Services for York Region v. B.T. and R.S., 2024 ONSC 2179 (CanLII), Bale J.

  • Admissibility of police records: para 175.

16.    Children’s Aid Society of the Districts of Sudbury and Manitoulin v. M.S., 2024 ONCJ 604 (CanLII), Jenner J.

  • When CAS may withdraw its application: paras 6-8 & 22-32.

17.    Dnaagdawenmag Binnoojiiyag Child and Family Services v. G.K., 2024 ONSC 3018 (CanLII), Bruhn J.

  • Overview of summary judgment principles: paras 52-61.

18.    Family and Children Services of St. Thomas and Elgin v. S.A., J.W. and Caldwell First Nation, 2024 ONSC 2740 (CanLII), Price J.

  • Test to vary interim order: paras 12-14 [also below under “Indigenous Children”].

Indigenous Children

19.    Family and Children Services of St. Thomas and Elgin v. S.A., J.W. and Caldwell First Nation, 2024 ONSC 2740 (CanLII), Price J.

  • Relationship between CYFSA and Federal Act; Federal Act has paramountcy where any conflict: paras 15-20 [also above under “Other Procedural Issues”].

20.    The Children’s Society of Ottawa v. N.D., 2024 ONSC 6200 (CanLII), Jensen J.

  • Mini-trial on whether children were Inuit: paras 7-17.

21.    Nogdawindamin Family and Community Services v. C.M. (Deceased), 2024 ONCJ 329 (CanLII), Mendes J.

  • Whether to add former customary caregivers as party; interaction with Federal Act: paras 19-29 & 33-56.

The Charter

22.    Children’s Aid Society of Toronto v. J.A.L., 2024 ONCJ 146 (CanLII), Sherr J.

  • Child protection proceedings engage Charter implications for a “vulnerable segment of our society”; cautious approach required before proceeding on summary basis: paras 26-30.

23.    Simcoe Muskoka Child, Youth and Family Services v. J.M.W., 2024 ONSC 1396 (CanLII), McDermot J.

  • Application of s. 13 of Charter (protection against self-incrimination): paras 11-37.

Ancillary Orders and Miscellaneous

24.    Children’s Aid Society of Toronto v. M.O., 2024 ONCJ 26 (CanLII), Sherr J.

  • Courts have jurisdiction to make temporary travel orders (dispensing with a party’s consent to the child travelling internationally): paras 20-40.

25.    Children’s Aid Society of Toronto v. A.V.G., 2024 ONCJ 157 (CanLII), O’Connell J.

  • Society needs court authorization to withdraw life support for a child in its temporary care: paras 1 & 102-131.

26.    A.R.P. v. Children’s Aid Society of London and Middlesex, 2024 ONSC 4023 (CanLII) (Div Ct).

  • Review of criteria for secure treatment program order: paras 2-9 & 49-58.

27.    Catholic Children’s Aid Society of Toronto v. W.-D., 2024 ONCJ 150 (CanLII), Kapurura J.

  • Determining who had charge of a child for purposes of a temporary care and custody hearing: paras 42-49.

28.    Catholic Children’s Aid Society of Toronto v. C.S., 2024 ONCJ 393 (CanLII), Pawagi J.

  • Educational neglect and lack of attendance at school as risk of harm: paras 36-66.

*with thanks to Rebecca Winninger, Vanessa Lam, and Sierra Larmand for their suggestions and edits.