Director of Child Welfare (Alta.) v. G.N., (2002) 332 A.R. 41 (QB)

• Judge: Watson, J.
• Court: Court of Queen's Bench of Alberta (Canada)
• Case Date: December 17, 2002
• Citations: (2002), 332 A.R. 41 (QB);2002 ABQB 1108

CFS v. G.N. (2002), 332 A.R. 41 (QB)

MLB headnote and full text

Temp. Cite: [2003] A.R. TBEd. JA.096

In The Matter Of J.E.N., born 1999 and S.A.P.N. born 1998 children within the meaning of the Child Welfare Act

Director of Child Welfare for the Province of Alberta (respondent/applicant) v. G.N. (appellant/respondent)

(Action No. 0203 11188; 2002 ABQB 1108)

Indexed As: Director of Child Welfare (Alta.) v. G.N.

Alberta Court of Queen's Bench

Judicial District of Edmonton

Watson, J.

December 17, 2002.

Summary:

A father had access to two children who were the subjects of a permanent guardian­ship order (PGO). The Director of Child Welfare applied for a review of the PGO under ss. 34(8), 34(13) and 34(14) of the Child Welfare Act. A judge concluded that further access would impair the potential adoption of the children and, more generally, that it was in their best interests for access to be terminated. The father appealed.

The Alberta Court of Queen's Bench dismissed the appeal.

Family Law - Topic 1670

Adoption - Effect of adoption - Rights of natural parents - Visiting rights - Section 34(8) of Alberta's Child Welfare Act provided "On making a permanent guard­ianship order or at any time during its term, the Court, on the application of a director, a former guardian of the child, the child if the child is 12 years of age or older or any other person with whom the child has a significant relationship, may make an order prescribing the access to be provided between the child and the former guardian or that other person." - Section 34(12) provided that "The Court shall not make an order under subsection (8) unless it is satisfied that the access provided by the order will not interfere with the adop­tion of the child." - The Alberta Court of Queen's Bench discussed whether the legislation gave presumptive status to adoptions over access - See paragraphs 81 to 83.

Guardian and Ward - Topic 815

Public trustee or guardian - Appointment - Child in need of protection - Consider­ations (incl. best interests of child) - Sec­tion 2 of Alberta's Child Welfare Act stated that "A Court and all persons shall exercise any authority or make any deci­sion relating to a child who is in need of protective services under this Act in the best interests of the child and in doing so shall consider the following as well as any other relevant matter: ... " - The Alberta Court of Queen's Bench stated that "the policies expressed in s. 2 of the Act here are not merely explanatory, nor are they solely to be considered as on the order of preamble such as Parliament has deployed in recent criminal law enactments to explain its objectives and to describe the context of the law ... S. 2 is also not mere­ly part of dialogue between the Branches of Government ... These provisions elabo­rate on the policy of the law itself ..." - See paragraph 78.

Guardian and Ward - Topic 825.3

Public trustee or guardian - Appointment - Access to children - [See Family Law - Topic 1670 ].

Guardian and Ward - Topic 825.3

Public trustee or guardian - Appointment - Access to children - A father had access to two children who were the subjects of a permanent guardianship order (PGO) - The father's access was subsequently termi­nated on the basis that further access would impair the potential adoption of the children and, more generally, that it was in their best interests for access to be termi­nated - The father appealed - His counsel asserted that there was "no evidence" from which it could be "compellingly or even logically concluded that continued access to the Appellant would be contrary to [the children's] best interests" - The Alberta Court of Queen's Bench objected to the use of the word "compellingly" to describe the onus in relation to terminating access - The matter was one of persuasion in light of all relevant considerations, not proof beyond a reasonable doubt - See para­graphs 110 to 111.

Cases Noticed:

New Brunswick (Minister of Health and Community Services) v. J.G. and D.V., [1999] 3 S.C.R. 46; 244 N.R. 276; 216 N.B.R.(2d) 25; 552 A.P.R. 25; 177 D.L.R.(4th) 124; 26 C.R.(5th) 203, refd to. [para. 5, footnote 2].

V.S. and B.S. v. Director of Child Welfare (Alta.), [1996] A.J. No. 708 (Q.B.), refd to. [para. 9, footnote 3].

Hope v. Hope (1854), 43 E.R. 534, refd to. [para. 11, footnote 4].

Beson et al. v. Director of Child Welfare (Nfld.), [1982] 2 S.C.R. 716; 44 N.R. 602; 39 Nfld. & P.E.I.R. 246; 111 A.P.R. 246; 142 D.L.R.(4th) 20, refd to. [para. 11, footnote 5].

D.T., Re (1992), 113 N.S.R.(2d) 74; 309 A.P.R. 74 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 11, footnote 6].

J.U. v. Regional Director of Child Welfare (Alta.) et al. (2001), 281 A.R. 396; 248 W.A.C. 396 (C.A.), leave to appeal refused (2001), 283 N.R. 398; 299 A.R. 305; 266 W.A.C. 305 (S.C.C.), refd to. [para. 11, footnote 7].

T.S. v. Director of Child Welfare (Alta.) - see D.L. et al. v. Director of Child Wel­fare (Alta.) et al.

D.L. et al. v. Director of Child Welfare (Alta.) et al. (2002), 299 A.R. 290; 266 W.A.C. 290; 26 R.F.L.(5th) 415 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 11, footnote 8].

E.S.C. v. D.A.P. et al. (1997), 206 A.R. 276; 156 W.A.C. 276; 53 Alta. L.R.(3d) 329; 152 D.L.R.(4th) 439; 32 R.F.L.(4th) 97 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 11, footnote 9].

Director of Child Welfare (Alta.) v. J.T., [1999] A.R. Uned. 105; 199 Carswell­Alta 265 (Q.B.), refd to. [para. 15, foot­note 11].

Catholic Children's Aid Society of Metro­politan Toronto v. C.M., [1994] 2 S.C.R. 165; 165 N.R. 161; 71 O.A.C. 81, refd to. [para. 15, footnote 12].

B.H. et al. v. Director of Child Welfare (Alta.) (2002), 302 A.R. 201 (Q.B.), affd. (2002), 303 A.R. 115; 273 W.A.C. 115 (C.A.), leave to appeal refused (2002), 295 N.R. 198; 312 A.R. 392; 281 W.A.C. 392 (S.C.C.), refd to. [para. 15, footnote 13].

R.E.D.M. v. Director of Child Welfare (Alta.) - see S.E.M., Re.

S.E.M., Re, [1987] 1 W.W.R. 327; 74 A.R. 23; 4 R.F.L.(3d) 363; 32 D.L.R.(4th) 394; 47 Alta. L.R.(2d) 380 (Q.B.), refd to. [para. 16, footnote 14].

W.W., Re (1989), 100 A.R. 221; 23 R.F.L.(3d) 72 (Q.B.), refd to. [para. 16, footnote 15].

New Brunswick (Minister of Social Ser­vices) v. G.C.C., [1988] 1 S.C.R. 1073; 85 N.R. 10; 85 N.B.R.(2d) 252; 217 A.P.R. 252, refd to. [para. 17, footnote 17].

Rizzo & Rizzo Shoes Ltd. (Bankrupt), Re, [1998] 1 S.C.R. 27; 221 N.R. 241; 106 O.A.C. 1, refd to. [para. 76, footnote 18].

R. v. Gladue (J.T.), [1999] 1 S.C.R. 688; 238 N.R. 1; 121 B.C.A.C. 161; 198 W.A.C. 161; 133 C.C.C.(3d) 385; 171 D.L.R.(4th) 385; 23 C.R.(5th) 197; [1999] 2 C.N.L.R. 252, refd to. [para. 76, footnote 19].

Bell ExpressVu Limited Partnership v. Rex et al. (2002), 287 N.R. 248; 166 B.C.A.C. 1; 271 W.A.C. 1; 212 D.L.R.(4th) 1 (S.C.C.), refd to. [para. 76, footnote 20].

R. v. Jarvis (W.J.), [2001] 3 W.W.R. 271; 271 A.R. 263; 234 W.A.C. 263; 149 C.C.C.(3d) 498; 193 D.L.R.(4th) 656 (C.A.), affd. (2002), 295 N.R. 201; 317 A.R. 1; 284 W.A.C. 1 (S.C.C.), refd to. [para. 76, footnote 21].

R. v. J.H. (2002), 155 O.A.C. 146; 161 C.C.C.(3d) 392 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 76, footnote 22].

Harvard College v. Commissioner of Pat­ents (2002), 296 N.R. 1 (S.C.C.), reving. [2000] 4 F.C. 528; 290 N.R. 320; 189 D.L.R.(4th) 385; 7 C.P.R.(4th) 1 (F.C.A.), refd to. [para. 77, footnote 23].

Archean Resources Ltd. v. Newfoundland (Minister of Finance) (2002), 215 Nfld. & P.E.I.R. 124; 644 A.P.R. 124 (Nfld. C.A.), refd to. [para. 78, footnote 24].

Sauvé v. Canada (Chief Electoral Officer) et al. (2002), 294 N.R. 1 (S.C.C.), refd to. [para. 78, footnote 26].

R. v. Hall (D.S.) (2002), 293 N.R. 239; 165 O.A.C. 319; 167 C.C.C.(3d) 449; 217 D.L.R.(4th) 536 (S.C.C.), refd to. [para. 78, footnote 26].

Little Sisters Book and Art Emporium et al. v. Canada (Minister of Justice) et al., [2000] 2 S.C.R. 1120; 263 N.R. 203; 145 B.C.A.C. 1; 237 W.A.C. 1; 150 C.C.C.(3d) 1; 38 C.R.(5th) 209; 193 D.L.R.(4th) 193; [2001] 2 W.W.R. 1, refd to. [para. 78, footnote 27].

R. v. Mills (B.J.), [1999] 3 S.C.R. 668; 248 N.R. 101; 244 A.R. 201; 209 W.A.C. 201; 139 C.C.C.(3d) 321; 28 C.R.(5th) 207; [2000] 2 W.W.R. 180; 75 Alta. L.R.(3d) 1, refd to. [para. 78, foot­note 28].

Young v. Young et al., [1993] 4 S.C.R. 3; 160 N.R. 1; 34 B.C.A.C. 161; 56 W.A.C. 161; 49 R.F.L.(3d) 117; [1993] 8 W.W.R. 513; 108 D.L.R.(4th) 193; 84 B.C.L.R.(2d) 1; 18 C.R.R.(2d) 41; [1993] R.D.F. 703; 1993 CarswellBC 264, refd to. [para. 82, footnote 30].

Catholic Children's Aid Society v. A.V.W. et al. (2002), 158 O.A.C. 274; 27 R.F.L.(5th) 9 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 98, footnote 32].

Nouveau-Brunswick (Ministre de la Santé et des Services communautaires) v. M.L. et R.L., [1998] 2 S.C.R. 534; 230 N.R. 201; 204 N.B.R.(2d) 1; 520 A.P.R. 1, refd to. [para. 101, footnote 33].

R. v. Schwartz (A.M.) - see Minister of National Revenue v. Schwartz.

Minister of National Revenue v. Schwartz, [1996] 1 S.C.R. 254; 193 N.R. 241; 17 C.C.E.L.(2d) 141; 96 D.T.C. 6103; 10 C.C.P.B. 213; [1996] 1 C.T.C. 303; 133 D.L.R.(4th) 289, refd to. [para. 102, footnote 34].

Housen v. Nikolaisen et al., [2002] 7 W.W.R. 1; 286 N.R. 1; 219 Sask.R. 1; 272 W.A.C. 1; 211 D.L.R.(4th) 577; 10 C.C.L.T.(3d) 157 (S.C.C.), refd to. [para. 102, footnote 35].

R. v. Sheppard (C.) (2002), 284 N.R. 342; 211 Nfld. & P.E.I.R. 50; 633 A.P.R. 50; 162 C.C.C.(3d) 298; 210 D.L.R.(4th) 608; 50 C.R.(5th) 68 (S.C.C.), refd to. [para. 104, footnote 36].

R. v. Braich (A.) et al. (2002), 285 N.R. 162; 164 B.C.A.C. 1; 268 W.A.C. 1; 162 C.C.C.(3d) 257; 210 D.L.R.(4th) 635 (S.C.C.), refd to. [para. 104, footnote 37].

Woods v. Racine and Racine, [1983] 2 S.C.R. 173; 48 N.R. 362; 24 Man.R.(2d) 314; 36 R.F.L.(2d) 1; 1 D.L.R.(4th) 193, refd to. [para. 106, footnote 38].

K.K. v. G.L. and B.J.L. - see King v. Mr. and Mrs. B.

King v. Mr. and Mrs. B., [1985] 1 S.C.R. 87; 57 N.R. 17; 58 A.R. 275; [1985] 3 W.W.R. 1; 44 R.F.L.(2d) 113; 16 D.L.R.(4th) 576, refd to. [para. 107, footnote 39].

S.G. v. Director of Child Welfare (Alta.), [2002] A.R. Uned. 489 (Q.B.), refd to. [para. 109, footnote 40].

Richardson v. Richardson, [1987] 1 S.C.R. 857; 77 N.R. 1; 22 O.A.C. 1; 7 R.F.L.(3d) 304; 38 D.L.R.(4th) 699; 17 C.P.C.(2d) 104, refd to. [para. 110, foot­note 42].

C.G.W. v. M.J. (1981), 34 O.R.(2d) 44 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 118, footnote 43].

Williams v. Hillier and Alberta (Attorney General), [1982] 1 W.W.R. 397; 33 A.R. 613; 25 R.F.L.(2d) 337; 17 Alta. L.R.(2d) 139; 130 D.L.R.(3d) 492 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 118, footnote 44].

Kunkel v. Kunkel (1994), 162 A.R. 81; 83 W.A.C. 81 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 118, footnote 44].

New Brunswick (Minister of Health and Community Services) v. K.E.B. (1992), 117 N.B.R.(2d) 229; 295 A.P.R. 229 (Fam. Div.), refd to. [para. 122, footnote 46].

M.A.G., Re (1986), 73 N.B.R.(2d) 443; 184 A.P.R. 443; 32 D.L.R.(4th) 263 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 122, footnote 47].

Director of Child Welfare (Alta.) v. L.L.O., [1996] A.J. No. 660 (Prov. Ct.), refd to. [para. 122, footnote 48].

Statutes Noticed:

Child Welfare Act, R.S.A. 2000, c. C-12, sect. 2 [para. 74]; sect. 34(12) [para. 79].

Counsel:

Vanita Pillay (Department of Justice), for the respondent/applicant;

Elsa G. Rice, for the appellant/respondent.

This appeal was heard on December 12 and 17, 2002, by Watson, J., of the Alberta Court of Queen's Bench, Judicial District of Edmonton, who delivered the following decision on December 17, 2002.