Sharon Francis Harrison

The appellant father appealed a final custody and access order that granted joint custody and gradually increased the respondent mother's access to their child.

The appellant also brought a motion to introduce fresh evidence regarding the child's recent regressive behaviour.

The Divisional Court dismissed the motion for fresh evidence, finding it did not meet the Palmer test and consisted largely of uncorroborated hearsay.

The court also dismissed the appeal, concluding that the trial judge made no palpable and overriding errors in assessing the child's best interests, the mother's history of substance abuse, and the parties' ability to communicate.

The Applicant father sought joint custody, equal parenting time, and a change in child support.

The Respondent mother sought sole custody, reduced access, table child support, sharing of s. 7 expenses, reimbursement of Child Tax Credit and daycare costs, and a restraining order.

The court found a material change in circumstances, awarded joint custody to both parents, and maintained the existing parenting schedule (not equal time for father, not reduced for mother).

The father was ordered to pay table child support and a proportionate share of s. 7 expenses, and to reimburse the mother for half of a Child Tax Credit payment and agreed daycare/coin costs.

The mother's request for a restraining order was dismissed due to insufficient evidence of fear for safety.