The applicant society and the Office of the Children's Lawyer brought motions to allow counsel, parties, and witnesses to attend an upcoming child protection trial remotely via Zoom due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
The respondent father opposed the motion, arguing that witnesses whose credibility was in issue should testify in person.
The court granted the motions, finding that the pandemic constituted an exceptional circumstance justifying remote testimony, provided that the audio and video quality did not jeopardize the fairness of the hearing.
A hybrid hearing was ordered subject to specific pre-conditions.
