Mario Miceli

A costs decision following a motion to change child support.

The respondent father sought to vary a child support order and recalculate arrears.

The applicant mother sought costs.

The court found that the respondent father behaved unreasonably throughout the litigation, particularly regarding his failure to provide adequate financial disclosure despite multiple court orders and motions.

The court awarded costs to the mother, finding the father's conduct was deliberately uncooperative and designed to gain advantage.

A status review application brought by Bruce Grey Child and Family Services seeking an order of Crown wardship with no access for a child (D.J.M.R.) born in 2005.

The child had been found in need of protection in 2009 and had spent over half his life in the care of the Society.

The mother (K.A.A.) sought to have the child returned to her care.

The court found that while the mother had made positive changes including establishing a stable relationship free from domestic violence and demonstrating improved mental health management, significant concerns remained regarding her historical pattern of prioritizing romantic relationships over her children's needs and her limited parenting capacity as documented in a psychological assessment.

The court also found serious failures by the Society in implementing court-ordered sibling access.

Despite reservations, the court determined it was in the child's best interests to be placed in the mother's care subject to 12 months of Society supervision with extensive conditions, rather than proceed with Crown wardship and adoption, given the child's strong emotional ties to his mother and the lack of a concrete adoption plan.