A grandmother sought access to her grandchildren and previously brought a motion requesting the appointment of the Office of the Children’s Lawyer to conduct a social work investigation.
The motion was denied and the parents, who successfully opposed the motion, sought costs after retaining a lawyer for limited assistance while otherwise remaining self‑represented.
The court considered the limited documentation supporting the fee claim, the practical realities facing self‑represented litigants, and the complexity of the background issues.
The court acknowledged the broader access to justice concerns highlighted by the Supreme Court of Canada in Hryniak v. Mauldin.
Costs were fixed at $1,500 payable by the moving party to the parents.
