J.D.B., Re, (2006) 421 A.R. 198 (QB)

• Judge: Watson, J.
• Court: Court of Queen's Bench of Alberta (Canada)
• Case Date: August 10, 2006
• Citations: (2006), 421 A.R. 198 (QB);2006 ABQB 681

J.D.B., Re (2006), 421 A.R. 198 (QB)

MLB headnote and full text

Temp. Cite: [2007] A.R. TBEd. JL.126

In The Matter Of the Child, Youth and Family Enhancement Act and In The Matter Of the Application by D.N.H. and T.R.H. for an Adoption Order regarding the child J.D.B. (AD03-47678; 2006 ABQB 681)

Indexed As: J.D.B., Re

Alberta Court of Queen's Bench

Judicial District of Edmonton

Watson, J.

August 10, 2006.

Summary:

The mother of a two month old child supported adoption by the proposed adoptive parents. The mother applied ex parte to have the biological father's consent dispensed with and to dispense with service of the petition and any accompanying documents respecting the adoption process on the father. In effect, the mother wished the father to have no notice of, or any opportunity to speak to, the adoption of his biological child.

The Alberta Court of Queen's Bench, pursuant to s. 64(8) of the Child, Youth and Family Enhancement Act, approved the manner of service effected and ordered that the father's consent be dispensed with.

Editor's Note: Certain names in the following case have been initialized or the case otherwise edited to prevent the disclosure of identities where required by law, publication ban, Maritime Law Book's editorial policy or otherwise.

Family Law - Topic 1569

Adoption - Consent of parents - Dispensing with consent - Grounds for - The mother of a two month old child supported adoption by the proposed adoptive parents - The mother applied ex parte to have the biological father's consent dispensed with and to dispense with service of the petition and any accompanying documents respecting the adoption process on the father - In effect, the mother wished the father to have no notice of, or any opportunity to speak to, the adoption of his biological child - Section 64(8) of the Child, Youth and Family Enhancement Act provided for the court shortening the time for service or approving the manner of service effected, but it did not provide for dispensing with service - The father was present at the birth, met the proposed adoptive parents and supported the proposed adoption in writing to a social worker - However, before he was presented with the consent forms, the father left and his present whereabouts were unknown - Attempts to contact him by way of the email address he provided were unsuccessful - The Alberta Court of Queen's Bench approved the manner of service effected under s. 64(8) and ordered that it was appropriate to dispense with the father's consent.

Family Law - Topic 1708

Adoption - Practice - Application - Notice of - [See Family Law - Topic 1569 ].

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; 26 C.R.(5th) 203; 177 D.L.R.(4th) 124; 50 R.F.L.(4th) 63; 66 C.R.(2d) 267; 7 B.H.R.C. 615; 1999 CarswellNB 305, refd to. [para. 10, footnote 5].

G., Re, [2006] UKHL 43 (H.L.), from [2006] EWCA Civ 372 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 13, footnote 7].

G, Re (Residence: Same Sex Partner), [2005] EWCA Civ 462; [2005] 2 F.L.R. 957 (Fam. Div.), refd to. [para. 13, footnote 7].

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; [1993] 8 W.W.R. 513; 108 D.L.R.(4th) 193; 18 C.R.R.(2d) 41; 49 R.F.L.(3d) 117; 84 B.C.L.R.(2d) 1; 1993 CarswellBC 264, refd to. [para. 17, footnote 8].

Canadian Foundation for Children, Youth and the Law v. Canada (Attorney General), [2004] 1 S.C.R. 76; 315 N.R. 201; 183 O.A.C. 1; 180 C.C.C.(3d) 353; 16 C.R.(6th) 203; 234 D.L.R.(4th) 257; 46 R.F.L.(5th) 1; 70 O.R.(3d) 94; 115 C.R.R.(2d) 88; 2004 CarswellOnt 252; 2004 SCC 4, refd to. [para. 17, footnote 9].

D.B.S. v. S.R.G. (2006), 351 N.R. 201; 391 A.R. 297; 377 W.A.C. 297; 2006 CarswellAlta 977; 2006 SCC 37, refd to. [para. 20, footnote 10].

S.M.C., Re (2001), 298 A.R. 163; 202 D.L.R.(4th) 372; 20 R.F.L.(5th) 358; 2001 CarswellAlta 1014; 2001 ABQB 687, refd to. [para. 21, footnote 11].

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; 1985 CarswellNWT 58, refd to. [para. 22, footnote 12].

Racine and Racine v. Woods, [1983] 2 S.C.R. 173; 48 N.R. 362; 24 Man.R.(2d) 314; [1981] 1 W.W.R. 1; 36 R.F.L.(3d) 1; 1 D.L.R.(4th) 193; [1984] 1 C.N.L.R. 161; 1983 CarswellMan 147, refd to. [para. 22, footnote 12].

Baker v. Canada (Minister of Citizenship and Immigration), [1999] 2 S.C.R. 817; 243 N.R. 22; 174 D.L.R.(4th) 193; 1 Imm. L.R.(3d) 1; 14 Admin. L.R.(3d) 173; 1999 CarswellNat 1124, refd to. [para. 28, footnote 13].

Rizzo & Rizzo Shoes Ltd. (Bankrupt), Re, [1998] 1 S.C.R. 27; 221 N.R. 241; 106 O.A.C. 1; 154 D.L.R.(4th) 193; 36 O.R.(3d) 418n; 50 C.B.R.(3d) 163; 33 C.C.E.L.(2d) 173; 98 C.L.L.C. 210-006; 1998 CarswellOnt 1, refd to. [para. 30, footnote 14].

Bristol-Myers Squibb Co. et al. v. Canada (Attorney General) et al., [2005] 1 S.C.R. 533; 334 N.R. 55; 39 C.P.R.(4th) 449; 253 D.L.R.(4th) 1; 2005 CarswellNat 1261, refd to. [para. 40, footnote 16].

Purba v. Ryan (2006), 397 A.R. 251; 384 W.A.C. 251; 2006 CarswellAlta 1006; 2006 ABCA 229, reving (2006), 394 A.R. 215; 2006 CarswellAlta 169; 2006 ABQB 127, refd to. [para. 43, footnote 17].

R. v. R.F.G. (1992), 131 A.R. 389; 25 W.A.C. 389 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 43, footnote 17].

R. v. Videoflicks Ltd. et al., [1986] 2 S.C.R. 713; 71 N.R. 161; 19 O.A.C. 239; 35 D.L.R.(4th) 1, refd to. [para. 43, footnote 17].

Nay v. Nay, [1982] 2 W.W.R. 381; 34 A.R. 221; 26 R.F.L.(2d) 266; 131 D.L.R.(3d) 215; 18 Alta. L.R.(2d) 97 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 47, footnote 18].

P.K. v. J.B.M. and B.L.M. (1990), 107 A.R. 145; 70 D.L.R.(4th) 727; 26 R.F.L.(3d) 410 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 47, footnote 19].

S.M.C., Re (2001), 298 A.R. 163 (Q.B.), refd to. [para. 47, footnote 19].

R. v. International Association of Bridge, Structural, Ornamental and Reinforcing Iron Workers, Local 771, [2005] 3 S.C.R. 425; 341 N.R. 357; 275 Sask.R. 1; 365 W.A.C. 1; [2006] 5 W.W.R. 114; 260 D.L.R.(4th) 385; 47 C.C.E.L.(3d) 1; 2005 C.L.L.C. 210-051; 2005 CarswellSask 768; 2005 SCC 70, refd to. [para. 49, footnote 20].

D.W.T. v. British Columbia (Attorney General) et al., [2003] 1 S.C.R. 835; 304 N.R. 201; 183 B.C.A.C. 1; 301 W.A.C. 1; 36 R.F.L.(4th) 429; 226 D.L.R.(4th) 1; [2003] 7 W.W.R. 391; 14 B.C.L.R.(4th) 12; 207 C.R.R.(2d) 277; 2003 CarswellBC 1350, refd to. [para. 52, footnote 21].

R. v. D.C.A., [2000] 5 W.W.R. 380; 255 A.R. 157; 220 W.A.C. 157; 143 C.C.C.(3d) 302; 77 Alta. L.R.(3d) 54; 2000 CarswellAlta 278, leave to appeal refused (2000), 263 N.R. 396; 281 A.R. 247; 248 W.A.C. 247 (S.C.C.), refd to. [para. 58, footnote 23].

Statutes Noticed:

Child, Youth and Family Enhancement Act, R.S.A. 2000, c. C-12, sect. 64(8) [para. 24].

Authors and Works Noticed:

Bennion, Francis Alan Roscoe, Statutory Intepretation: A Code (4th Ed. 2002), pp. 400, 401 [para. 43, footnote 17].

Driedger, Elmer A., Construction of Statutes (2nd Ed. 1983), pp. 87 [para. 30, footnote 14]; 247 [para. 40, footnote 16].

Maxwell, Peter Benson, Interpretation of Statutes (12th Ed. 1969), pp. 236 to 238 [para. 43, footnote 17].

Counsel:

M. Strauss, for the applicants.

This application was heard on August 10, 2006, before Watson, J., of the Alberta Court of Queen's Bench, Judicial District of Edmonton, whose following oral decision on August 10, 2006, was filed in writing on September 15, 2006.