Copy of the principles of judicial office: how many Ontario family court judges actually follow these principles?

Principles of Judicial Office

Respect for the Judiciary is acquired through the pursuit of excellence in administering justice.

Preamble

A strong and independent judiciary is indispensable to the proper administration of justice in our society. Judges must be free to perform their judicial duties without fear of reprisal or influence from any person, group, institution or level of government. In turn, society has a right to expect those appointed as judges to be honourable and worthy of its trust and confidence.

The judges of the Ontario Court of Justice (Provincial Division) recognize their duty to establish, maintain, encourage and uphold high standards of personal conduct and professionalism so as to preserve the independence and integrity of their judicial office and to preserve the faith and trust that society places in the men and women who have agreed to accept the responsibilities of judicial office.

The following principles of judicial office are established by the judges of the Ontario Court of Justice (Provincial Division) and set out standards of excellence and integrity to which all judges subscribe. These principles are not exhaustive. They are designed to be advisory in nature and are not directly related to any specific disciplinary process. Intended to assist judges in addressing ethical and professional dilemmas, they may also serve in assisting the public to understand the reasonable expectations which the public may have of judges in the performance of judicial duties and in the conduct of judges’ personal lives.

1. The Judge in Court

1.1 Judges must be impartial and objective in the discharge of their judicial duties.

Commentaries:
Judges should not be influenced by partisan interests, public pressure or fear of criticism. Judges should maintain their objectivity and shall not, by words or conduct, manifest favour,bias or prejudice towards any party or interest.

1.2. Judges have a duty to follow the law.

Commentaries:
Judges have a duty to apply the relevant law to the facts and circumstances of the cases before the court and render justice within the framework of the law.

1.3. Judges will endeavour to maintain order and decorum in court.

Commentaries:
Judges must strive to be patient, dignified and courteous in performing the duties of judicial office and shall carry out their role with integrity, appropriate firmness and honour.

2. The Judge and the Court

2.1. Judges should approach their judicial duties in a spirit of collegiality, cooperation and mutual assistance.

2.2. Judges should conduct court business with due diligence and dispose of all matters before them promptly and efficiently having regard, at all times, to the interests of justice and the rights of the parties before the court.

2.3. Reasons for judgment should be delivered in a timely manner.

2.4. Judges have a duty to maintain their professional competence in the law.

Commentaries:
Judges should attend and participate in continuing legal and general education programs.

2.5. The primary responsibility of judges is the discharge of their judicial duties.

Commentaries:
Subject to applicable legislation, judges may participate in law related activities such as teaching, participating in educational conferences, writing and working on committees for the advancement of judicial interests and concerns, provided such activities do not interfere with the judges’ primary duty to the court.

3. The Judge in the Community

3.1. Judges should maintain their personal conduct at a level which will ensure the public’s trust and confidence.

3.2. Judges must avoid any conflict of interest, or the appearance of any conflict of interest, in the performance of their judicial duties.

Commentaries:
Judges must not participate in any partisan political activity. Judges must not contribute financially to any political party.

3.3. Judges must not abuse the power of their judicial office or use it inappropriately.

3.4. Judges are encouraged to be involved in community activities provided such involvement is not incompatible with their judicial office.

A judge wanting to fix Ontario's broken family courts

Chief Justice Warren Winkler at Family Law Summit

Ontario Court of Appeal Chief Justice Warren Winkler has just completed a impassioned speech at the 5th Annual Family Law Summit at Toronto.

Continuing his call for reform to Ontario's family law system, and underlining his postion that the entire system is broken and needs restructuring from the ground up, Mr. Justice Winkler emphasized the need for change now.

Here are Justice Winkler's key, quoteworthy points (reproduced, in part from our live-tweets):

• The Family law system in Ontario needs reform now. He intended his September 2010 comments as a lightning rod for change to the whole system. He observes that much dialogue has resulted.
• Trend in Family Law: The well-to-do are opting out of the system and choosing private mediation/arbitration; Others going self-rep (up to 70% in Toronto)
• Asks if we are trending toward a two-tiered system? Notes Canadians don't like two-tiered systems.
• Family law system needs affordability, timing, efficiency.
• He proposes "presumptive judicial mediation" as cornerstone of new system..
• Justice Winkler's proposal: Triage Judge to handle cases that can't or shouldn't be mediated. The Triage judge will send an immediate message: It "won't be pleasant" for those acting badly
• Access to justice is a double-edged sword - it can also be used by one party to harass the other. The family justice system should not be permitted to be used to perpetrate wrongful conduct by either party. We must "take the system out of play"
• Under his proposed new system, every court attendance must be meaningful. Must eliminate wasteful court appearances.
• Need system of "one family, one judge"
• Goals of new family law system - Must be cheap, simple, understandable and affordable
• We have "studied" Unified Family Court far too long. Need UFC's across the Province now.
• He is committed to getting this change done now, and asks family law bar to help make it happen.

The abuse men and children face at the hands of family court judges

Canadian Children deserve better than growing up learning to assume that men are violent abusers

Canadian Politicians need to start thinking about what they can do for Canada and not what Canada can do for them.

Canadian Children deserve better than growing up learning to assume that men are violent abusers and a danger to children, the extreme feminist agenda, a doctrine that controls most family court judges, police and that group called child protection workers.

There is no promotion of marriage, only a promotion of marriage destruction, a promotion of the removal of fathers that is destroying Canada with a resulting negative birth rate.

There needs to be a radical reform of family law, child protection law, and a brighter light on equality rights for men and children.

Children don't have legal rights to a mother and a father. Children have no legal right to know WHO their mother and father are.

The only solution, is for DNA testing at birth with parental confirmation by DNA testing. Every man in Canada should be able to have his DNA checked to see if he has become an unwitting father.

Canadian Justice is a sick joke that has more in common with that of 1939 Germany than a real rule of law.

The first start is a total reform of Family Law in Canada based on equality rights, an assumption of equal parenting, and tough penalties for false allegations that feminists encourage.

Then there is the area's of education and social work where men have been made outcasts. In many of those areas, the only men you find are those who are follow the promotion of hatred of men dictated by feminist doctrine.

You fight fire not by blowing the smoke away, but by fire prevention in the first place. In Canadian society children and men have next to no legal rights which requires recognition and radical change.

Across Canada, men have a reverse onus applied to them, an assumption that everything is wrong with them or anything they say because it conflicts with the dogma spouted forth by feminists that indoctrinates the judiciary, police and the most evil of all, the Child Protection Workers of Ontario who have next to no oversight.

Canadian men have similar rights to that of jews being placed in cattle carts on a non stop journey to the concentration camp.

Women are increasingly well educated as to the lack of men's legal rights and know that if he calls 911 because she assaults him, he will be arrested automatically, and a year later, if he is lucky, be found not guilty. In the intervening year, his children have a better probability of being alienated from him.

Men now are afraid of being fathers, they are afraid of women who hold all the power and can have one little finger dial 911 to unleash a war of police, family court, child protection, criminal prosecution, all to ensure his total destruction in the name of feminist doctrine that has more in common with that by the 3'rd Reich than to that mythical charter of rights and freedoms that the Supreme court seem to think needs to apply its gender lens.

Source: OttawaMensCentre.com
awaMensCentr ... attachment


The upside of these events, aside from their informative and much needed content, is the public displays by the extreme left wing acolytes of wymen's (gender) studies programs. It shows the precariousness of their positions, very ridiculous behaviour, and more importantly the paranoia involved.

Those of us who have been dealing with these feminist, nutbar, zealots for many years could sometimes not get others to believe how nutty and fringe they really are. These forums bring them out of the woodwork and on display for all to see via youtube. And they are not all female.

The surge in men's rights initiatives and the feminist backlash

Barbara Kay: Calling all male bashers

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Wednesday, Jun. 5, 2013


On-campus support groups for men are being attacked for 'defending rape' by the usual feminist suspects. AP Photo/Michael D. McElwain

In alarmed response to emerging “men’s rights awareness” groups (MRA) on a number of Canadian campuses, the Canadian Federation of Students (CFS), a union body representing some 500,000 students, seeks to amend its “Sexual Assault and Violence Against Women on Campus” policy.

The CFS rejects any need of formal fellowship around specifically male issues, alleging MRA groups’ real purpose is to promote “misogynist, hateful views” and to “justify sexual assault.” Simon Fraser University’s recently inaugurated $30,000-funded men’s centre, for example, was demonized as a place to “celebrate hegemonic masculinity.”

What nonsense! The actual benign nature of MRA groups, where both sexes are welcome to discuss male-centred concerns, can be seen in a publicity campaign video of a relatively new organization, which has become a lightning rod for anti-male activism, the Canadian Association for Equality (C.A.F.E.).

The video, titled “Support the Men’s Centre Campus Campaign”, was posted to YouTube on C.A.F.E. channel, EqualityCanadaTV. In it, various young actors, male and female, calmly address the viewer, explaining “their” reasons for appreciating campus men’s centres: genetics-inspired fears of early prostate cancer; help for gays dealing with bullying; worry over disproportionate male unemployment; troubling high school dropout rates amongst boys; the impact of fatherlessness following unfair custody decisions.

If passed, the CFS amendment would endorse official opposition to events “whose purpose is to frighten, intimidate, and/or target women students on campus:” as interpreted by CFS, that means any event addressing any male concerns.

Now it’s personal!

Beginning in January 2012, C.A.F.E. has organized several events at the University of Toronto, featuring diverse speakers, such as York University sociology prof and online journal New Male Studies editor Rob Kenedy, famous sociologue Lionel Tiger, prostate cancer survivor Aaron Bacher — and me!

The first few events took place without incident. True, my Feb., 2012, talk on family court bias against dads was attended by antipathetic feminists tweeting furiously throughout (#feministbashingparty), and the Q&A was, shall we say, animated. But it did not descend into the ugliness that accompanied the three following events, when the adversarial River Bile overflowed its (left) bank.

Angry protesters tried to shut down the event by barricading entrances and exits in contravention of safety codes

Warren Farrell, a Financial Times Top Thought Leader and former Board member of the National Organization for Women, gave a talk at the University of Toronto last November, his innocuous topic the declining success of boys. Yet he was greeted with an inflamed mob representing the whole leftist spectrum: the Socialist Worker Canada with support from CUPE, the University of Toronto Students Unions and the Ryerson School of Social Work.

You can get the flavour of the virulence in a Nov., 2012, YouTube video titled “university of toronto feminist protest 4/4/2013″, where a woman protester, apparently not the least bit “frightened” or “intimidated,” berates those attending the event. It’s known as the “Shut the f–k up” video. You’ll see why.

Angry protesters tried to shut down the event by barricading entrances and exits in contravention of safety codes. Video footage has a spokeswoman asserting event organizers “defend rape, they defend incest, they defend violence against children,” obscene canards all.

C.A.F.E. has been scrupulous in presenting objective, non-inflammatory polemicists of impeccable civility

Setting themselves up as arbiters of acceptable discourse, protesters lied to incoming people, insisting the event had been cancelled. Attendees, men and women alike, who told protesters they merely sought fodder for an informed opinion, were harassed with equal venom.

The evening was a disgrace to the principle of free speech all reasonable Canadians uphold. Since then, two more C.A.F.E. events have required police intervention to handle similar shenanigans, including the ringing of fire alarms and shouting over speakers of the utmost respectability. One was Janice Fiamengo, a thoughtful, soft-spoken English Literature professor at the University of Ottawa, the others were McGill University academics and writing partners, Katherine Young and Paul Nathanson.

Fiamengo spoke from an evidence-based perspective about the inherent man-blaming premises of Women’s Studies, a domain she knows intimately. Young and Nathanson gave a dignified, highbrow talk, “From Misogyny and Misandry to Intersexual Dialogue.” (Their exhaustively researched series of books — Spreading Misandry, Legalizing Misandry and the upcoming Transcending Misandry, invaluable sources for me — are nonpareils of responsible scholarship and lucidity.)

In other words, C.A.F.E. has been scrupulous in presenting objective, non-inflammatory polemicists of impeccable civility (even I behaved myself), all unequivocally committed to gender equality. None hold radical or more than mildly controversial views. By contrast, those protesting their appearance have been immature yahoos, displaying truculence, duplicity, ignorance and boorishness.

If they’d listened instead of protesting, those angry activists might have come to appreciate men’s viable concerns. But acknowledging men’s humanity is ideologically untenable for extremists. It’s sleazier, but easier to keep screaming, “Shut the f–k up!”

National Post

Ontario youth take a seat at the policy planning table

As the father of teenaged children, I am frequently being told that I am too old and just don’t “get it.” To a certain extent, I think my kids are absolutely right. There is a very pronounced generational gap between us, which leads to differences in the way we communicate, reason, prioritize and grow. We have a completely different frame of reference and worldview.

It is critical that we, as adults, recognize that the experiences of youth are different from our own, but they have just as much impact and validity. This understanding is not only important in my role as a father, but also in my capacity as deputy minister of Ontario’s Ministry of Children and Youth Services (MCYS).

It is our responsibility at MCYS to serve the unique needs and give a voice to children and youth in Ontario, especially those who are vulnerable. But for us in government, listening is not enough. We must actively engage youth and ensure that they have a seat at the public policy planning table.

The concept of increased collaboration and civic participation in public policymaking is not new – we have been talking about this for the past two decades. It has just taken us a little while to apply this approach to youth.

Over the past year, MCYS has embarked on a consultative process unlike any we have held before. The catalyst for action on this particular project was not the senior bureaucrats or politicians. Instead, it was youth themselves.

In November 2011, a group of youth currently or formerly in the care of Ontario children’s aid societies worked with the Office of the Provincial Advocate for Children and Youth to organize two days of public hearings at the Ontario Legislature. These youth wanted to share the challenges they faced when aging out of the system. Many felt isolated or silenced, and this was their opportunity to speak out.

Following these hearings, the youth prepared a remarkable report in May 2012, called My Real Life Book. This report put forward a series of recommendations to the province, with the objective of improving the child welfare system in Ontario.

Our ministry immediately acted on the report’s top recommendation by establishing the Youth Leaving Care Working Group, made up of nine youth with experience living in care and seven community partners from across Ontario. This group met 11 times between July 30, 2012 and January 4, 2013, with the task of building a plan for fundamental change to the child welfare system.

Meetings were often raw, as youth spoke with profound honesty, experience and insight. They brought a sense of urgency and focus to the policymaking process, which was truly educational for ministry staff involved.

It is important to note that the ministry’s role was only that of engaged listener. It was crucial that the process truly belonged to and was guided by youth. This in itself is a unique approach for us in government. I must credit the ministry’s Child Welfare Secretariat, whose expertise and flexibility behind the scenes made this entire process possible.

We did not try to make youth fit within the typical consultation process, instead, we tailored the process to fit youth. For example, all working group youth members were paid an honorarium to show that we valued their time and insights. We had support workers available at every meeting, where emotions could run high. Youth were given time on their own to caucus before each meeting, so they could focus their thoughts and brainstorm together.

In the end, our working group produced the Blueprint for Fundamental Change to Ontario’s Child Welfare System in January 2013. Mere days after its release, the Minister of Children and Youth Services announced $24 million in new resources and supports to help youth in and leaving care transition to adulthood. This came as direct result of the Blueprint – talk about policy in action!

The success of our Youth Leaving Care Working Group is very much an indication of what is possible when we collaborate with and are accountable to our most important stakeholder – Ontario’s youth.

Our organization is undergoing a culture change that is being championed by senior leaders. There is an increased recognition that it is our responsibility to ensure that meaningful consultation with youth and their families is part of the way we do business.

Whether we are developing policy or designing programs, we must go directly to the source. In doing so, we can ensure that our programs and services truly reflect the reality and needs of children and youth in Ontario.

The dire state of Ontario's broken family courts

“There is no system ever devised by mankind that is guaranteed to rip husband and wife or father, mother and child apart so bitterly then our present Family Court System” – Judge Brian Lindsay Retired Supreme Court Judge

I have been pondering what has been happening in the courts lately. I am struck by the overall apathy of people until it directly affects their lives. Apathy is the very thing that destroys a nation. When we become apathetic we let down our guard and allow the wolves to enter the sheep’s fold. These wolves are cleverly disguised as sheep but no matter what they look like on the outside they are wolves who seek to devour every thing in site. I know it sounds a little dramatic and a little conspiracy theory but the reality is that we have let the wolves in.

Politically our nation and many other nations around the world are poised on the edge of destruction. Every major empire in history was brought down by apathy of the people. When apathy happens, complacency follows and then nations are easily overtaken. I think back to the not so distant past of the Nazi regime. When Hitler came to power he spouted ideals and a Utopian society that everyone desperately wanted. They were tired of the status quo and wanted change. He was a genius of a man and knew that the way to control the nation was to control the families, primarily the children. Once he had control of the children he could brainwash them into believing whatever he told them. This insane man was able to rally huge parts of the civilized world together to fight for his ideals. How was he able to do this? I am personally convinced that he was a very persuasive personality, but more than that he was brilliantly strategic in where he put his focus. He focused on the youth.

The very thing that happened in Nazi Germany is happening today. Families are being torn apart by people in positions of power – judges, case workers, attorneys. The family court system and our system of justice have become the new regime. If you don’t agree with them, if you stand up for your rights, or voice your displeasure in the system you are crushed. As much as I hate to say it the alienators think that they are in control but really they are just puppets in the hands of power hungry people who want to play God in the lives of the people. Parental Alienation is one of the tools they use to destroy families and gain control of our children. It is happening everyday in every civilized country around the globe and the majority of people are sitting back and apathetically letting it happen.

“Canada's family courts are causing millions of children undue suffering as a result of rulings which result in one parent, usually the father, being cut out of their children’s lives. These actions against our children are nothing less than child abuse, the results of which we are just now realizing all across this country. Children from fatherless homes account for 63% of youth suicides, 70% of juveniles in state operated institutions, 85% of all children that exhibit behavioral disorders and 71% of all high school dropouts. These statistics are just a sample of the adverse effects these rulings are having on our society. The impact is both socially and economically devastating. What kind of future will our children face without these issues being successfully addressed?”

Let’s put a stop to the apathy, the insanity and the destruction of our nation through the use of the family.

Parental Alienation

Corrupt Family Court System and apathy are destroying the our nation“There is no system ever devised by mankind that is guaranteed to rip husband and wife or father, mother and child apart so bitterly then our present Family Court System” – Judge Brian Lindsay Retired Supreme Court JudgeI have been pondering what has been happening in the courts lately. I am struck by the overall apathy of people until it directly affects their lives. Apathy is the very thing that destroys a nation. When we become apathetic we let down our guard and allow the wolves to enter the sheep’s fold. These wolves are cleverly disguised as sheep but no matter what they look like on the outside they are wolves who seek to devour every thing in site. I know it sounds a little dramatic and a little conspiracy theory but the reality is that we have let the wolves in.Politically our nation and many other nations around the world are poised on the edge of destruction. Every major empire in history was brought down by apathy of the people. When apathy happens, complacency follows and then nations are easily overtaken. I think back to the not so distant past of the Nazi regime. When Hitler came to power he spouted ideals and a Utopian society that everyone desperately wanted. They were tired of the status quo and wanted change. He was a genius of a man and knew that the way to control the nation was to control the families, primarily the children. Once he had control of the children he could brainwash them into believing whatever he told them. This insane man was able to rally huge parts of the civilized world together to fight for his ideals. How was he able to do this? I am personally convinced that he was a very persuasive personality, but more than that he was brilliantly strategic in where he put his focus. He focused on the youth.The very thing that happened in Nazi Germany is happening today. Families are being torn apart by people in positions of power – judges, case workers, attorneys. The family court system and our system of justice have become the new regime. If you don’t agree with them, if you stand up for your rights, or voice your displeasure in the system you are crushed. As much as I hate to say it the alienators think that they are in control but really they are just puppets in the hands of power hungry people who want to play God in the lives of the people. Parental Alienation is one of the tools they use to destroy families and gain control of our children. It is happening everyday in every civilized country around the globe and the majority of people are sitting back and apathetically letting it happen.“America’s family courts are causing millions of children undue suffering as a result of rulings which result in one parent, usually the father, being cut out of their children’s lives. These actions against our children are nothing less than child abuse, the results of which we are just now realizing all across this country. Children from fatherless homes account for 63% of youth suicides, 70% of juveniles in state operated institutions, 85% of all children that exhibit behavioral disorders and 71% of all high school dropouts. These statistics are just a sample of the adverse effects these rulings are having on our society. The impact is both socially and economically devastating. What kind of future will our children face without these issues being successfully addressed?” – World4JusticeLet’s put a stop to the apathy, the insanity and the destruction of our nation through the use of the family.