The parties separated after an 8.5-year marriage and resolved most issues, leaving only decision-making responsibility for their two children's health and education to be determined at trial.
The mother sought sole decision-making responsibility, while the father sought joint decision-making, alternatively with a requirement to use a parenting coordinator with arbitration powers.
The court reviewed the extensive history of parental conflict, allegations of family violence, and the parties' difficulties in addressing one child's reading delays and the other's ADHD diagnosis.
The court held that it had jurisdiction under the Divorce Act to order parties to participate in the non-binding aspects of parenting coordination, but could not mandate binding arbitration without consent.
The court ordered a detailed framework requiring the parties to attempt to make health and education decisions jointly, including using a mediator or parenting coordinator if they reach an impasse.
However, if consensus still cannot be reached, the mother was granted final decision-making authority.
