Legislation and regulations

The Child and Family Services Review Board (CFSRB)’s mandate falls under three pieces of legislation:

• Child, Youth and Family Services Act, 2017 – relates to complaints about services provided by children’s aid societies, adoptions, emergency secure treatment admission, foster care and residential placements
• Education Act – relates to student expulsions by a school board
• Intercountry Adoption Act – relates to international adoptions

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Rules and practice directions

Rules

There are two parts to the rules that govern the procedures of the CFSRB. Part I is the Social Justice Tribunals Ontario (SJTO) Common Rules and Part II is the CFSRB specific rules. Both parts, available under the CFSRB Rules of Procedure , should be read together.

Practice directions

The following practice directions have been developed to support the Rules of Procedure and provide guidance about what the tribunal expects of the parties and what the parties can expect of the tribunal:

• The Practice Direction on Representation before Tribunals Ontario explains the representation of parties before the CFSRB, including who can represent a party and the obligations of representatives
• The Practice Direction on Litigation Guardians before Tribunals Ontario explains how a person who does not have legal capacity can be a party to a case before the CFSRB through a litigation guardian
• The Practice Direction on Scheduling Pre-Hearing/Mediations and Hearings, Rescheduling Requests, and Adjournment Requests explains the processes and steps available for scheduling and rescheduling a pre-hearing or mediation as well as requests for adjourning a hearing
• The Practice Direction on Communicating with the Child and Family Services Review Board explains the requirements necessary for communicating, and providing the CFSRB, with documents and materials

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Decisions

For process-related information about CFSRB decisions, see the Application and hearing process pages.

To read decisions issued by the CFSRB, visit the Canadian Legal Information Institute (CanLII).

Pursuant to Rules 9.3 and 9.4 of the CFSRB Rules of Procedure , parties and their representatives must not use, share, discuss or disclose any CFSRB documents or decisions or any other documents or information provided or used in an application with anyone, including through the media or online. The CFSRB prohibits the use of any of this information for any purpose outside of the CFSRB’s proceedings, except with an order of the Court or the CFSRB, as appropriate.