WL & RL v. Kawartha-Haliburton Children’s Aid Society, 2025 CFSRB 34

CHILD AND FAMILY SERVICES REVIEW BOARD

BETWEEN:

WL & RL Applicants

-and-

Kawartha-Haliburton Children’s Aid Society Respondent

INTERIM DECISION

Adjudicator: Caroline Sand Date: March 14, 2025 Citation: 2025 CFSRB 34 Indexed As: WL & RL v Kawartha-Haliburton Children’s Aid Society (CYFSA s.192)

OVERVIEW

1This is an Application filed with the Child and Family Services Review Board (“CFSRB”) pursuant to section 192 of the Child, Youth and Family Services Act, 2017, S.O. 2017, c.14, Sched.1 (the “Act”).

2The Applicants allege that the child “M” (the “Child”) has lived with them since her birth in August, 2020, and that she was in an adoption placement with them.

3On March 5, 2025, the Respondent provided written notice to the Applicants of its decision not to finalize the adoption and end the adoptive placement of the Child with them.

ISSUE

4Is the Application eligible for review by the CFSRB?

RESULT

5The CFSRB finds that the Application is eligible for review.

ANALYSIS

6When a person receives notice under section 192 that a children’s aid society or licensee has decided to remove a child who has been placed with them for adoption, they may within 10 days after receiving the notice apply to the CFSRB for a review of the decision.

7The Application was filed within 10 days of the Applicants receiving written notice from the Respondent of its intention to remove the Child.

DIRECTIONS

8To ensure that the hearing of the Application proceeds expeditiously, the CFSRB has set the first day of the hearing for March 20, 2025. A one-hour videoconference will be held on that date at 2:00 p.m. The CFSRB will send the parties a Notice of Hearing setting out the details for connecting to the videoconference on that date and time.

9The purpose of the first day of the hearing is to:

• identify any preliminary issues;

• provide directions about evidence and witnesses;

• set timelines for document disclosure and submission of witness statements;

• set a date or dates for continuation of the hearing;

• discuss the possibility of mediation; and

• deal with any other necessary procedural matters.

10Subject to subsection 192(14) of the Act, subsection 192(13) of the Act explicitly precludes the Respondent from removing the Child from the Applicants until the CFSRB has completed its review of the Application.

CONFIDENTIALITY ORDER

11Pursuant to Rules 9.3 and 9.4 of the CFSRB’s Rules of Procedure, parties and their representatives must not use, share, discuss or disclose any CFSRB documents or decisions or any other documents or information provided or used in this Application with anyone, including through the media or online. The CFSRB prohibits the use of any of this information for any purpose outside of the CFSRB’s proceedings, except with an order of the Court or the CFSRB, as appropriate.