SL and MN v. Family and Children’s Services of Lanark, Leeds and Grenville, 2025 CFSRB 8

CHILD AND FAMILY SERVICES REVIEW BOARD

BETWEEN:

SL and MN Applicants

-and-

Family and Children’s Services of Lanark, Leeds and Grenville Respondent

INTERIM DECISION

Adjudicator: Tamara Jordan Date: January 27, 2025 Citation: 2025 CFSRB 8 Indexed As: SL and MN v Family and Children’s Services of Lanark, Leeds and Grenville (CYFSA s.192)

OVERVIEW

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

2The Applicants together filed four Form 3 applications with the CFSRB on January 27, 2025. Each Applicant filed two Form 3s, identifying one of two twin children (the “Children”) on each. With their filing, the Applicants attached one summary of facts applicable to both Applicants and the Children. The CFSRB processed all Form 3s together as one Application.

3The Applicants state that they wish to adopt the Children who have lived with the Applicants for almost two years, since the Children were six months old. The Applicants allege that they were approved as adoptive parents for the Children and the Respondent placed the Children with them on adoption probation in April 2024.

4On January 17, 2025, the Respondent provided written notice to the Applicants of its decision to terminate the adoptive placement of the Children with the Applicants and remove the Children from their home.

ISSUE

5The issue is:

a. Is the Application eligible for review by the CFSRB?

RESULT

6The CFSRB finds that the Application is eligible for review.

ANALYSIS

7When 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.

8The Application was filed within 10 days of the Applicants receiving written notice from the Respondent of its intention to remove the Children.

DIRECTIONS

9To ensure that the hearing of the Application proceeds expeditiously, the CFSRB has set the first day of the hearing for January 30, 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.

10The 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.

11Subject to subsection 192(14) of the Act, subsection 192(13) of the Act explicitly precludes the Respondent from removing the Children from the Applicants until the CFSRB has completed its review of the Application.

CONFIDENTIALITY ORDER

12Pursuant 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.