H. Markham Silver

The appellant was convicted of obstructing justice after attending the complainant's home uninvited to discuss the process for withdrawing criminal harassment charges she had recently laid against him.

The trial judge found the appellant's conduct was wilful and constituted an attempt to dissuade the complainant from giving evidence by corrupt means.

A majority of the Court of Appeal affirmed the conviction, and a majority of the Supreme Court dismissed the appeal, substantially for the reasons of the Court of Appeal majority.

The majority held that the record clearly supported the inference that the appellant applied pressure on the complainant to manipulate her into dropping the charges.

Côté J. dissented, finding no evidence that the appellant used threats, bribes, or other corrupt means as required by s. 139(3) of the Criminal Code.

A status review application under the Child and Family Services Act concerning four children in the care of the Children's Aid Society.

The court conducted a 14-day trial to determine whether the children should be returned to parental care under supervision or made Crown wards.

The Society sought Crown wardship for all four children, citing the parents' inability to adequately care for, supervise, and protect the children, particularly regarding control of problematic child behaviour.

The father sought return of the children under Society supervision.

The children's representatives sought various dispositions.

The court found that the children were in need of protection under section 37(2)(b)(i) and (ii) of the Act due to the parents' failure to adequately care for, supervise, and protect the children, creating a risk of physical harm.

The court ordered that all four children be made Crown wards of the Society.