Steven James Edgley

The court considered a motion for summary judgment by the Family and Children’s Services of Lanark, Leeds and Grenville regarding the status of a child, S.T., under the Child, Youth and Family Services Act, 2017.

The Society sought an order finding that S.T. was not in need of protection in relation to his father, M.T., and requested that M.T. be granted custody and sole decision-making responsibility, with the mother, B.W., to have limited parenting time.

The court reviewed the history of the Society’s involvement, the child’s circumstances, and the legal principles governing summary judgment and status review applications.

The court found that S.T. was not in need of protection regarding M.T., but continued to be in need of protection regarding B.W., and granted the relief sought by the Society.

This motion concerned the temporary care and custody of two children, E.-L. and Z.P., following their apprehension due to ongoing adult conflict between the mother and Z.P.'s father.

The Family and Children's Services sought placement with the maternal grandfather, while the mother sought return of the children or placement with kin caregivers (the L.'s), and Z.P.'s father sought placement of Z.P. with him.

The court found a material change in circumstances due to the persistent conflict.

It determined that the children could not safely remain with the mother.

The maternal grandfather was deemed unsuitable due to lack of assessment and negative reports.

The court ordered E.-L. to be placed in the temporary care of the L.'s and Z.P. to be placed in the temporary care of her biological father, Mr. P., conditional on him securing suitable housing.

The L.'s were also added as parties to the child protection proceedings.