Paul Arthur Messecar James

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.

A parent appealed a child protection order finding two children in need of protection under s.37(2)(b)(i) and (ii) of the Child and Family Services Act and making them Crown wards without access.

The appeal challenged the admission of a supplementary trial record, reliance on medical and professional reports, alleged hearsay in affidavits, and the trial judge’s treatment of the best interests analysis.

The court held that the evidentiary rulings were proper, noting trial counsel consented to the admission of several records and had opportunities for cross‑examination.

The court also found the trial judge’s reasons sufficiently addressed the children’s best interests and were entitled to significant deference.

Finding no palpable and overriding error, the appeal was dismissed.