Christina Budweth

The applicant filed a complaint with the Child and Family Services Review Board alleging that a Children's Aid Society employee made inappropriate comments to her after she requested her disclosure file.

The respondent challenged the Board's jurisdiction, arguing the complaint was merely a request to review perceived mistreatment.

The Board found it had jurisdiction, characterizing the complaint as a failure by the respondent to hear the applicant's concerns in a circumstance where her livelihood could be at risk.

Despite the applicant's failure to attend a scheduled pre-hearing, the Board declined to dismiss the application, finding she had an honestly held belief that she had communicated her unavailability, and ordered the matter to proceed to a rescheduled pre-hearing.

The applicant filed an application under s. 120 of the Child, Youth and Family Services Act, 2017 regarding inaccuracies in the respondent society's file.

The parties reached a settlement agreement requiring the applicant to provide a concise statement of disagreement for the respondent to add to its file.

The applicant provided a 25-page statement detailing alleged statutory breaches.

The Board found the statement was not concise and did not comply with the agreement.

The respondent was relieved of its obligation to add the statement to the file, and the application was closed.

The applicant alleged that the respondent children's aid society failed to comply with a settlement agreement requiring it to provide reasons for closing its investigation file and to disclose information provided to the Superior Court.

Following a non-compliance hearing, the Child and Family Services Review Board found that the respondent had provided detailed reasons regarding the file closure and counselling services.

Although the respondent initially failed to provide the court materials, it rectified this non-compliance during the hearing.

The Board concluded the respondent had complied with the agreement and closed the file.