Under the broad interpretation of the rules established by the tribunal in the appeal of Marika Vandewater, the Oshawa grandmother who won her case last January, Wendy O’Riley is the second grandparent in the last year in Ontario to have her Temporary Care Assistance payments reinstated. As in Mrs. Vandewater's case, Ms. O’Riley’s TCA benefits have been necessary to pay for the care of her young grandchild.

“This case highlights the social injustices faced by these families,” says FMC associate Doug Stewart, who represented both grandparents on behalf of Pro Bono Law Ontario. “The ministry must bring practices in line with the principles espoused in the (tribunal) decisions.”

This rare win is a needle in a haystack of losses, with thousands of grandparents at risk of having their support cut and being forced to go through a time consuming, expensive and stressful appeal process to achieve any recourse. Now, they all anxiously wait to see whether there will be any change in the ministry's approach that will bring practices in line with the tribunal's decisions.

For further information, please read Laurie Monsebraaten’s thestar.com article, Rare win for grandparents: Financial support reinstated (Wednesday, January 19, 2011). 

Please see the official press release and related media coverage items for more information on this case:

An Ongoing Saga: Temporary Care Assistance for Grandparents, CARP, January 14, 2011