Joseph Belecky

The Children's Aid Society sought a protection finding and an order of Crown wardship for a child apprehended at birth due to the mother's substance abuse and mental health issues.

The mother passed away shortly after the child's birth.

The father, who had separated from the mother, sought to parent the child.

The Society argued the father lacked parenting capacity based on observations during supervised access and a parenting program.

The court found the child in need of protection but dismissed the request for Crown wardship, finding the Society's concerns about the father's parenting abilities were overstated and did not justify the most intrusive order.

The court ordered the child placed in the father's care for 10 months subject to a supervision order with terms and conditions, emphasizing the principle of the least disruptive course of action.

Two child protection agencies sought Crown wardship of five children born to deaf parents.

The four older children had been in care for over five years, and the youngest was apprehended at birth.

The parents sought the return of all children.

The court found all five children to be in need of protection due to the parents' history of transience, inability to meet the children's significant developmental needs, and lack of a stable housing plan.

The court ordered Crown wardship for all five children without parental access, finding that the parents could not provide the necessary stability and that parental access would not be beneficial and meaningful or would impair adoption.

Sibling access was ordered.