L.G.A.B., Re, (1989) 101 A.R. 92 (ProvCt)

• Judge: Cook-Stanhope, P.C.J.
• Court: Provincial Court of Alberta (Canada)
• Case Date: December 22, 1989
• Citations: (1989), 101 A.R. 92 (ProvCt)

L.G.A.B., Re (1989), 101 A.R. 92 (ProvCt)

MLB headnote and full text

Re L.G.A.B.

(File N9881)

Indexed As: L.G.A.B., Re

Alberta Provincial Court

Cook-Stanhope, P.C.J.

December 22, 1989.

Summary:

The biological father of an illegitimate child applied under s. 49 of the Child Welfare Act for a private guardianship order. The following two preliminary issues were placed before the court for determination: (1) Was the biological father, in law, a guardian of his child and (2) If not, did the court have jurisdiction to hear and determine under s. 52(1) of the Constitution Act a constitutional challenge to s. 47 of the Domestic Relations Act. Section 47 provided that the mother of an illegitimate child was the sole guardian.

The Alberta Provincial Court ruled that the biological father was not, in law, a guardian and that the court did have jurisdiction to entertain a constitutional challenge under s. 52(1).

Civil Rights - Topic 8363

Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms - Denial of rights - Jurisdiction - Court of competent jurisdiction - The biological father of an illegitimate child applied under s. 49 of the Child Welfare Act for a private guardianship order - Section 47 of the Domestic Relations Act made the mother the sole guardian of an illegitimate child - The Alberta Provincial Court held that it had jurisdiction to entertain a constitutional challenge to s. 47 under s. 52(1) of the Constitution Act - The court opined that although a remedy under s. 24(1) of the Charter was neither applied for nor needed, the Provincial Court was a court of competent jurisdiction to grant a remedy under s. 24(1), because the court had jurisdiction over the person and subject matter in question and had authority to make the order sought - See paragraphs 61 to 79.

Guardian and Ward - Topic 114

Right to guardianship - Of illegitimate children - Section 47 of the Domestic Relations Act, R.S.A. 1980, c. D-37, provided that "unless otherwise ordered by the court the father and mother of a minor are the joint guardians of the minor, and the mother of an illegitimate minor is the sole guardian of the illegitimate minor" - The Alberta Provincial Court stated that absent a successful constitutional challenge to s. 47, the biological father of an illegitimate child in Alberta was not his guardian at law - See paragraphs 10 to 60.

Cases Noticed:

R. v. A.J.G. (1988), 87 A.R. 362, refd to. [para. 3].

R. v. Johnson and Norton (1989), 93 A.R. 67 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 7].

Barnardo v. McHugh, [1891] A.C. 388; [1891-94] All E.R. 825, refd to. [para. 14].

R. v. Enkirch, [1983] 1 W.W.R. 530; 41 A.R. 387 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 17].

Hewer v. Bryant, [1970] 1 Q.B. 357 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 17].

H.J.L. v. L.A. and R.D.A. (1986), 69 A.R. 243; 45 Alta. L.R.(2d) 125 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 25].

W.D. v. G.P., [1984] 5 W.W.R. 289; 54 A.R. 161; 32 Alta. L.R.(2d) 232; 41 R.F.L.(2d) 229, refd to. [para. 26].

Valiquette v. Jabs (1986), 72 A.R. 133, refd to. [para. 29].

Re W.A.B., R.M.B. and L.M.M. (1989), 96 A.R. 45 (Q.B.), refd to. [para. 31].

K.K.W. v. E.J.R. (1989), 69 Alta. L.R.(2d) 95 (Q.B.), refd to. [para. 34].

Smith v. Koch, [1976] 3 W.W.R. 346; 24 R.F.L. 155, refd to. [para. 39].

Kastning v. Charles et al. (1987), 80 A.R. 150; 8 R.F.L.(3d) 147 (Q.B.), refd to. [para. 41].

Walker v. Smith (D.) (1987), 87 A.R. 65; 56 Alta. L.R.(2d) 285, refd to. [para. 41].

L.C. v. W.C. (1989), 90 A.R. 262; 62 Alta. L.R.(2d) 66, folld. [para. 41].

Re A.M.L. (1988), 81 A.R. 149; 10 R.F.L.(3d) 172, refd to. [para. 42].

Lachance v. Cloutier (1982), 36 A.R. 124 (P.C.), refd to. [para. 44].

King v. Mr. and Mrs. B. (1985), 57 N.R. 17; 58 A.R. 275; 44 R.F.L.(2d) 113 (S.C.C.), refd to. [para. 51].

B.D.W. v. G.B.G.R. (1989), 68 Alta. L.R.(2d) 377 (Q.B.), refd to. [para. 51].

R. v. Hummell (1987), 60 O.R.(2d) 545; 36 C.C.C.(3d) 8, refd to. [para. 54].

O'Neill v. Drummond (1986), 68 A.R. 394, refd to. [para. 58].

R. v. Big M Drug Mart Ltd., [1985] 1 S.C.R. 295; 58 N.R. 81; 60 A.R. 161; 18 C.C.C.(3d) 385; [1985] 3 W.W.R. 481; 13 C.R.R. 64; 18 D.L.R.(4th) 321, refd to. [para. 63].

United Nurses Association, Local 115 v. Foothills Provincial General Hospital (1987), 81 A.R. 292; 40 D.L.R. (4th) 163, not appld. [para. 66].

Legal Services Society v. Brahan (1984), 148 D.L.R.(3d) 692, dist. [para. 66].

Irwin Toy Ltd. v. Québec (Procureur général) (1989), 94 N.R. 167; 24 Q.A.C. 2 (S.C.C.), dist. [para. 66].

Vincer v. Canada (Attorney General) (1987), 82 N.R. 352; 46 D.L.R.(4th) 165 (S.C.C.), refd to. [para. 66].

Zwarich v. Canada (Attorney General), [1987] 3 F.C. 253; 82 N.R. 341 (F.C.A.), refd to. [para. 66].

Tetrault-Gadoury v. Canada Employment and Immigration Commission (1988), 88 N.R. 6; 53 D.L.R.(4th) 384 (F.C.A.), refd to. [para. 66].

Poirier v. Canada (Minister of Veterans' Affairs) (1989), 96 N.R. 34 (F.C.A.), refd to. [para. 66].

R. v. Mills, [1986] 1 S.C.R. 863; 67 N.R. 241; 16 O.A.C. 81; 26 C.C.C.(3d) 481; 2 C.R.R. 76; 29 D.L.R.(4th) 161, appld. [para. 67].

Dolphin Delivery Ltd. v. Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union, Local 580, Peterson and Alexander, [1987] 1 W.W.R. 577; 71 N.R. 83 (S.C.C.), refd to. [para. 67].

Re Shewchuk and Ricard (1986), 28 D.L.R.(4th) 429, refd to. [para. 73].

Cuddy Chicks Ltd. v. Labour Relations Board (Ont.) et al. (1989), 32 O.A.C. 6 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 77].

Statutes Noticed:

Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, 1982, sect. 1, sect. 15, sect. 24(1) [Appendix].

Child Welfare Act, S.A. 1984, c. C-8.1, sect. 17, sect. 19(8)(a) [para. 42]; sect. 32, sect. 34 [para. 23]; sect. 45(c) [para. 39]; sect. 49, sect. 53 [Appendix]; sect. 57(2), sect. 57(4), sect. 60(20) [para. 39].

Constitution Act, 1982, sect. 52(1) [Appendix].

Dependent Adults' Act, R.S.A. 1980, c. D-32, generally [para. 19].

Domestic Relations Act, R.S.A. 1980, c. D-37, sect. 27 [para. 24]; sect. 47 [para. 3, Appendix].

Maintenance and Recovery Act, R.S.A. 1980, c. M-2, sect. 23 [para. 37].

Provincial Court Act, R.S.A. 1980, c. P-20, sect. 32 [para. 24].

Public Trustee Act, R.S.A. 1980, c. P-36, generally [para. 19].

Authors and Works Noticed:

Marcus, Stephen H., Equal Protection: The Custody of the Illegitimate Child (1971), 11 J.F.L. 1, pp. 9 [para. 12]; 16-18 [para. 13].

Ziff, Bruce, A Note on the Plight of Unwed Fathers in Alberta, 59 Alta. L.R.(2d) 149 [para. 41].

Counsel:

Brian A.F. Edy, for the natural father;

Nancy Flatters, for the mother;

Robert Maybank, for the Attorney General of Alberta, intervenor.

This application was heard before Cook-Stanhope, P.C.J., of the Alberta Provincial Court, who delivered the following judgment on December 22, 1989.