The paternal grandmother brought a motion to be added as a party to a child protection proceeding.
She had been granted temporary care and custody of her two grandchildren under a previous without-prejudice order.
The society opposed the motion, arguing she was not a statutory parent and that adding her would cause undue delay.
The court found that the grandmother qualified as a statutory parent under the Child, Youth and Family Services Act because she had lawful custody of the children pursuant to the temporary order.
Alternatively, the court held she should be added as a party under the Family Law Rules, as her participation was necessary to determine the issues and was in the best interests of the children.
The motion was granted.