2019 QCCQ 15726, 2019 QCCQ 15726

Protection de la jeunesse — 194986 2019 QCCQ 15726 COURT OF QUEBEC CANADA PROVINCE OF QUEBEC DISTRICT OF [ … ] TOWN OF [ … ] Youth Division No: 635-41-000726-163 DATE: January 15, 2019 (written judgment rendered on June 17, 2019) ______________________________________________________________________ BY THE HONOURABLE PEGGY WAROLIN J.C.Q. ______________________________________________________________________ IN THE MATTER OF: X , born on [ … ] , 2001 [ social worker 1 ] & [ social worker 2 ] , Youth Protection workers, duly authorized by the Director of Youth Protection A, working in Town A, district A Applicants and A, residing and domiciled at [ … ] , district A Mother and B, residing and domiciled at [ … ] , district A Father ______________________________________________________________________ JUDGMENT (Section 95 of the Youth Protection Act ) ______________________________________________________________________ WARNING: The Youth Protection Act forbids the publishing or broadcasting of information allowing for a child or the child’s parents to be identified.

Any person who contravenes this provision commits an offence and is liable to a fine (sections 11.2, 11.2.1 and 135 Y.P.A.). [ 1 ] The Director of Youth Protection (DYP) asks the Court to extend a decision rendered on January 31, 2018, regarding the youth X, born on [ … ] , 2001.

At that date the Court declared the security and development still in danger and ordered that the youth remain with the parents with aid, counsel and assistance until October 30, 2018. [ 2 ] The DYP suggests that the youth remain with the parents with aid, counselling or assistance until her majority. [ 3 ] The file was fixed for hearing in October 2018, but as the mother has to accompany one of the children in Town B for medical reasons, it was postponed in January 2019.

In the meanwhile, the Court maintained the measures previously ordered. [ 4 ] In January, the mother is still in Town B for medical reason, but represented by Me Lazarov and she asks the Court to proceed in her absence. She admits some of the allegations, and she agrees with the recommendations. [ 5 ] The father is present and represented by Me Tommasel. He admits some of the allegations, and he agrees with all the recommendations. [ 6 ] X who is 17 years old is present, and represented by Me Martineau. She admits some of the allegations, and she agrees with the recommendations. She is the oldest of the family.

She has four siblings which the situations are also submitted to the Court. Historical situation [ 7 ] On November 8, 2016 , X’s situation was submitted to the Court. The evidence showed that both parents had alcohol consumption issues. The oldest children had to take care of the youngest ones. The parents appeared motivated to change their way of life. Both worked and despite their alcohol issues, they have good parental capacities. The Court declared that the situation of X was in danger [1] and maintained her with her parents until May 31, 2017. [ 8 ] On May 24, 2017 , the Court revised the decision.

The parents’ situation gets worse. The father did not seek help. The mother applied to entrust Centre A. The three oldest children developed defence strategies and left the house when the situation becomes too difficult or conjugal violence occurs. The Court maintained X with her parents until November 30, 2017. [ 9 ] On January 31, 2018, as the situation remained the same, the Court prolonged the previous decision until October 30, 2018. Facts [ 10 ] The DYP worker testifies that the father refuse to seek help for his alcohol consumption. The mother is still on a waiting list to attend a treatment centre.

Even if the parents did not receive professional help regarding their addiction, they were able to reduce their

alcohol consumption since the last order. Mr. [social worker 1] also adds that the parents generally offer a better collaboration. [ 11 ] As the situation is not totally resolved, an event of conjugal violence occurred on October 18, 2018, and the mother was seriously injured. [ 12 ] On her side, X who was not going to school on a regular basis, improved her situation and started to work hard at school and motivates herself with her sister Sarah. She appears sometimes very emotional and was medevaced to Town C to be assessed.

She expresses missing her siblings a lot. [ 13 ] As one of the daughters has a very important medical situation, the mother had to travel with her in Town B for neurosurgery. Even if the mother has an alcohol issue, she stayed close to her daughter and was sober while in Town B. [ 14 ] Mr. [social worker 1] testifies in the presence of the father and explains that the children are missing their parents a lot. Currently the children are entrusted in other communities because of the parents’ issues. The DYP worker would like the parents to continue to make efforts as they did since the last order.

He would also like they finalize to resolve their alcohol consumption issues which have an impact on their conjugal relationship. The parents have to realize the impact of their behaviour on the well-being of their children. [ 15 ] The mother has the interest to go to therapy, but with the medical problem of one of her daughter, it’s difficult for her to be absent for a long period. The father improve a lot, but he is not sure that he needs a therapy to quit drinking. [ 16 ] Mr. [social worker 1] is confident that he can work with the parents.

He wants the parents to understand well the maximum delay imposed by the law. [ 17 ] The father testifies with a lot of emotions. He indicates that he lived very difficult situations in his life, but does not wish to give any details as his children are present in the court room. The Court offered him to ask the children to live, but he said no as it’s too hard on him to speak about that. [ 18 ] He is missing his children a lot. He would like to see them more often and admits that the separation after a home visit is always very difficult.

He is sad that no access was organized from Christmas. [ 19 ] He said being totally aware of the situation and what is expecting from him. He is not ready to go to treatment and think being able to quit with the resources available in his community. His spouse is willing to go to treatment, and he agrees with that. [ 20 ] He feels comfortable to work with Mr. [social worker 1] and to communicate with him. [ 21 ] During the father’s testimony, the two oldest daughters were very emotional.

Analysis [ 22 ] The Court took the opportunity to explain to the father the maximum period of placement prescribed by the law in the file of his three youngest children, and the reason of those periods. The situation of the parents is not easy. They have their personal issues, consequences of the traumas they suffered in their life, and they now have to take care of their children and one has very special needs. [ 23 ] The Court understands this very difficult situation and do not blame the parents for what they suffered from. But now, it’s their responsibility to stop this circle.

The father does not want their children to make the future generation living the same difficulties. For this reason, the Court invites him to show to his children that he can take his situation in hand and give his family a better life. By the example he will give his children, it will be the best heritage he could give them. [ 24 ] The Court alerts the father that the mother will need to be supported in her choice to attend a treatment centre. When she comes back, she will need to live in an environment free from alcohol consumption to make sure she won’t relapse.

Together, the parents are able to manage that, and they will appreciate their new way of life exempt from violence. [ 25 ] The father, on his side, does not wish to attend a treatment centre. It’s true to say that leaving a community for few months is a big decision. But other services exist and the father has to take advantage of it. If he prefers to go to Social Services, to speak with elders, to participate to traditional activities, to healing circle, he can do it.

The most important is not the way to do it, the most important is the result. [ 26 ] The Court invites the father to think about that and to take the step he has to do to continue to improve his situation as he did since the last order. [ 27 ] The Court has the evidence that the situation of the youth remains in danger and agrees with the recommended measures.

FOR THOSE REASONS, THE COURT: [ 28 ] GRANTS the application; [ 29 ] DECLARES that the security and the development of the youth X, born on [ … ] , 2001, are still in danger; [ 30 ] ENTRUSTS X to her parents; [ 31 ] ORDERS that the youth and the parents take an active

part in the application of any of the measures ordered by the Court; [ 32 ] ORDERS that the youth and the parents report in person, at regular intervals, to the Director of Youth Protection to inform him of the current situation;

[ 33 ] ORDERS that the parents remain sober in the presence of the youth; [ 34 ] STRONGLY RECOMMENDS that the parents seek help through the Social Services concerning their alcohol, drugs and personal issues, including therapy; [ 35 ] ORDERS that a person working for an institution or body, provide aid, counselling or assistance to the youth and the parents; [ 36 ] ENTRUSTS the situation of the youth X , to the Director of Youth Protection A, who shall then see that the measures are carried out; [ 37 ] THE WHOLE until the age of majority. __________________________________ PEGGY WAROLIN , J.C.Q.

Me Geneviève Apollon, attorney for the Director of Youth Protection Me Isabelle Martineau, attorney for the youth Me Ivan Lazarov, attorney for the mother Me Angèle Tommasel, attorney for the father Date of hearing: January 15, 2019