Canada Court Watch - Family Justice Review Committee

Family Abuse Registry
(Currently Under Construction)

The Family Justice Review Committee currently maintains a list of child protection workers, agencies and associated professionals (such as doctors, psychologists, lawyers or counsellors) where reasonable evidence was found to exist which would show that those individuals or agencies have acted against what members of the community feel is the best interests of children and families.  Additional information about the list of this criteria can be found by checking our our position statements page on this website.  It is in the public's interest that such matters be discussed in public as such matters can have impact on other members of the public in the community. Not only should the names those parents who abuse children be noted, but also the names of those government funded workers and agencies who may be abusing children and families as well.

The list of names contained on the Family Abuse Registry is managed by a sub committee of members with the Justice Review Committee.  The Committee holds open public meetings to discuss the inclusion of new names which have been submitted by the public for inclusion on to the list.  Individuals who may be involved with a child protection worker or agency can check to see if the name of a particular individual or agency is on the list by making an inquiry in writing to the Family Justice Review Committee.

The names of those placed on the Family Abuse Registry List will include, but not just limited to the following:

Child Protect Workers and Agencies

• Child protection workers who have been found committing perjury in court documents.

• Child protection workers who distort and twist information with an intent to mislead the court or other agencies about a parent's parenting abilities.

• Child protection workers who have refused to allow parents or children to record their conversations and phone calls with workers when this was specifically requested by either the parents or the children.

• Child protection workers, agencies and lawyers who refuse to videotape meetings with children which involve the collection of information to be used against parents in court, when videotaping was specifically requested by the parents or the children.

• Child protection workers and agencies who have placed a child into a foster/group home care when evidence would reasonably show that there was an alternate placement for the child with family or with community.

• Child protection worker who act maliciously against children or families.

• Child protection workers who have failed to conduct child abuse investigations in an efficient and expedient manner

• Child protection workers who have intimidated or threats against children or families.

• Child protection workers who refuse to provide a written copy of their qualifications and experience (curriculum vitae) upon request of a family in which they are involved with.

• Child Protection Agencies who refuse to implement procedures and policies which will improve accountability of workers.

• Child Protection Agencies who take a position in court to keep children or family members out of a courtroom contrary to the wishes of the children or their family members without showing compelling evidence to show why having family members in the court would be contrary to the administration of Justice or the best interest of children who may be the subject of such proceedings.

Medical or Health Care Professionals, Counsellors

• Medical or health care professionals who have prescribed psychiatric medication to a child at the request of child protection workers without a full investigation into circumstances surrounding the child's need for such medication.

• Assessors who refuse to provide a report in writing when requested to do so by parents during a child custody or child protection matter.

• Child protection workers who refuse to provide a written copy of their qualifications and experience (curriculum vitae) upon request of a family in which they are involved with.

• Child custody assessors who refuse to videotape meetings with children which involve the collection of information to be used against parents in court, when videotaping was specifically requested by the parents or the children.

• Counsellors who provide services to children and families in a bias manner.

Judges and Lawyers

• Children's lawyers who refuse to provide transcripts to child clients upon request if the child was not in attendance at the court.

• Children's lawyers who refuse to videotape meetings with children which involve the collection of information to be used against parents in court, when videotaping was specifically requested by the parents or the children.

• Judges and lawyers who argue to prevent family members and support persons from being present in the courtroom when family members have requested to attend.

• Lawyers who argue in court to keep children or family members out of a courtroom contrary to the wishes of the children or their family members without showing compelling evidence to show why having family members in the court would be contrary to the administration of Justice or the best interest of children who may be the subject of such proceedings.

• Lawyers who refuse to argue to have recording devices brought used in the court under section 136 of the Court of Justice Act in Ontario when requested to do so by parents or a child.

Process of placing the name of an individual or agency on the Family Abuse Registry

When a complaint about a particular individual or agency has been received from a member of the public, the complaint will be initially reviewed by an intake team.  The review team may request further information if it is felt that the information received is not sufficient.  If the information appears to reasonably support claims that the person or agency named has acted against the interest of children or families, then that person's name will passed over to a 12 person committee who will approve adding the name of that person or agency on to the Registry. Once approved, the name will be added to the list.  If not approved at the first meeting, the committee could request that the person or agency named be given the opportunity to appear or to have a representative appear before the committee prior to the name being placed on the Family Abuse Registry list.

The person or agency who name has been added on the Family Abuse Registry List prior to a public hearing will be contacted and given an opportunity to attend a public hearing in which they can present evidence to the Family Abuse Registry Committee before members of the public.  Persons whose name appears on the list can apply to have their name removed by making an application to the Family Justice Review Committee which will be argued before members of the public.

It should also be noted that should patterns of abuse of children and families by particular CAS workers or agencies be noted from the information gathered on our list, that the information will be used to inform those affected and to be possibly used in individual or class action lawsuits against those CAS workers, agencies and/or professionals involved.

If you would like to have the name of a person or agency added to the Family Abuse Registry list, then contact us at info@canadacourtwatch.com You should be prepared to submit evidence in support of your claim against the particular person or agency.  You must also be prepared to attend a hearing should the person or agency involved also decide they wish to be heard in public before our committee.