C.V. v. J.L., (1995) 166 A.R. 352 (ProvCt)

• Judge: Landerkin, P.C.J.
• Court: Provincial Court of Alberta (Canada)
• Case Date: February 28, 1995
• Citations: (1995), 166 A.R. 352 (ProvCt)

C.V. v. J.L. (1995), 166 A.R. 352 (ProvCt)

MLB headnote and full text

In The Matter of M.V., born June 25, 1993, a child within the meaning of The Child Welfare Act, S.A. 1985, c. C-8.1, thereto;

and In The Matter of an Application for Private Guardianship of the child, made the 7th day of November, 1994, by C.V., pursuant to the said Act

C.V. (applicant) v. J.L. (respondent)

(File No. N12647)

Indexed As: C.V. v. J.L.

Alberta Provincial Court

Family Division

Landerkin, P.C.J.

February 28, 1995.

Summary:

A putative father applied for interim access to his daughter. The father had applied to become her guardian under the Child Wel­fare Act although he was a legal stranger to her.

The Alberta Provincial Court held that it did not have interim access jurisdiction in private guardianship proceedings under the Act.

Editor's Note: For a related case see V.F. v. J.L. et al. reported at 163 A.R. 1; 83 W.A.C. 1.

Courts - Topic 8422

Provincial courts - Alberta - Provincial Court - Family Division - Jurisdiction - The Alberta Provincial Court stated that the Provincial Court had no ex parte juris­diction unless expressly stated by the empowering statute - The court stated that proceedings under the Child Welfare Act required notice to the guardian, the Direc­tor of Child Welfare and the child if over 12 - See paragraphs 7 to 8.

Courts - Topic 8422

Provincial courts - Alberta - Provincial Court - Family Division - Jurisdiction - [See Courts - Topic 8426 ].

Courts - Topic 8426

Provincial courts - Alberta - Provincial Court - Family Division - Custody and access to children - The putative father applied to become guardian of M.V. under the Child Welfare Act - He was never declared the father under the Domestic Relations Act and had not been recognized as the child's guardian and therefore was a legal stranger - He applied for interim access to M.V. - The Alberta Provincial Court held that it lacked interim access jurisdiction in private guardianship pro­ceedings under the Act - The court could only grant or deny an application for pri­vate guardianship - The court did not have jurisdiction to grant access before finding the father a legal guardian.

Family Law - Topic 2000.1

Custody and access - Access - Right to access - Rights of strangers - [See Courts - Topic 8426 ].

Family Law - Topic 2005

Custody and access - Access - Access order - Jurisdiction of court respecting - [See Courts - Topic 8426 ].

Guardian and Ward - Topic 215

Appointment and qualifications of guardian - Of children - Jurisdiction - [See Courts - Topic 8426 ].

Infants - Topic 2703

Illegitimate children - Access to - By putative father - [See Courts - Topic 8426 ].

Infants - Topic 6041

Legal proceedings - Jurisdiction - General - [See Courts - Topic 8426 ].

Cases Noticed:

H.A.D. and R.M.D. v. N.C.M. (1994), 145 A.R. 200; 55 W.A.C. 200 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 2].

V.F. v. J.L. et al. (1995), 163 A.R. 1; 83 W.A.C. 1; A.W.L.D. 097 (Prov. Ct.), refd to. [para. 4].

P.K. v. J.B.M. and B.L.M. (1990), 107 A.R. 145 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 7].

Children's Aid Society of Metropolitan Toronto (Municipality) v. Lyttle, [1973] S.C.R. 568, refd to. [para. 7].

R.S. v. A.L. (1994), 158 A.R. 227; 6 R.F.L.(4th) 19 (Q.B.), refd to. [para. 11].

R.G.J.S. and G.M.S. v. B.L.P. (1987), 75 A.R. 287 (Q.B.), refd to. [para. 12].

A.Y.W., Re (1994), 142 A.R. 231 (Prov. Ct.), refd to. [para. 13].

W.A.B., R.M.B. and L.M.M., Re (1989), 96 A.R. 45 (Q.B.), refd to. [para. 16].

J.P., Re (1983), 648 P.2d 1364 (Utah), refd to. [para. 23].

W.D. v. G.P. (1984), 54 A.R. 161 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 26].

O'Neill v. Drummond (1986), 68 A.R. 394 (Q.B.), refd to. [para. 26].

Knight v. Knight and Herrigan (1992), 132 A.R. 341 (Prov. Ct. Fam. Div.), refd to. [para. 26].

R.B.F. v. K.G. (1993), 147 A.R. 376 (Prov. Ct. Fam. Div.), refd to. [para. 26].

Scott v. Hotchkiss (1990), 105 A.R. 354; 26 R.F.L.(3d) 26 (Prov. Ct.), refd to. [para. 29].

L.G.A.B., Re (1990), 101 A.R. 92 (Prov. Ct.), refd to. [para. 29].

Eve, Re, [1986] 2 S.C.R. 388; 71 N.R. 1; 61 Nfld. & P.E.I.R. 273; 185 A.P.R. 273; 31 D.L.R.(4th) 1; 13 C.P.C.(3d) 6, refd to. [para. 34].

Smoky River Coal Ltd. v. United Steelworkers of America, Local 7621 et al. (1984), 53 A.R. 150; 8 D.L.R.(4th) 603 (Q.B.), refd to. [para. 37].

R. v. Doyle, [1977] 1 S.C.R. 597; 9 N.R. 285; 10 Nfld. & P.E.I.R. 45; 17 A.P.R. 45; 29 C.C.C.(2d) 177, refd to. [para. 42].

Statutes Noticed:

Child Welfare Act, R.S.A. 1980, c. C-8, sect. 1(2)(a), sect. 1(2)(b), sect. 1(2)(c), sect. 1(2)(d), sect. 1(2)(e), sect. 1(2)(f), sect. 1(2)(g), sect. 1(2)(h) [para. 22]; sect. 21(3) [para. 8]; Part 5 [para. 13 et seq.].

Domestic Relations Act, R.S.A. 1980, c. D-37, generally [para. 1].

Provincial Court Act, R.S.A. 1980, c. P-20, sect. 32 [para. 11].

Authors and Works Noticed:

Bushnell, S.I., The Welfare of Children and the Jurisdiction of the Court under Parens Patriae, generally [para. 31].

Coming of Age in Alberta: An Overview of Parents' and Children's Rights and Responsibilities, Premier's Council in Support of Alberta Families (November 1994), generally [para. 24].

Connell-Thouez and Knoppers, Con­temporary Trends in Family Law (1984), pp. 223 to 242 [para. 31].

Driedger, Elmer A., Construction of Statutes (2nd Ed. 1983), pp. 87, 105 [para. 39]; 106 [para. 38].

Dworkin, Ronald, Taking Rights Seriously (1978), p. 31 [para. 30].

Counsel:

Katherine Checkland, for the applicant.

Counsel for respondent not available.

This application was heard before Landerkin, P.C.J., of the Alberta Provincial Court, Family Division, who delivered the following judgment on February 28, 1995.