Gas expenses as Section 7?

[Pickle]

This past summer my ex sent our child to her mother's on her weeks. Her mother lives several hours away so the gas charges are significant. She now wants me to pay a portion of the gas expenses as she claims they are childcare expenses.

She did not notify me at any time that she planned to do this so I had no opportunity to object to the expense or suggest an alternative.

Is there any case law to support gas expenses being a Section 7 expense?

Thanks!

[Berner_Faith]

As far as I am aware, a parent, grandparent or immediate family member does not count as child care. Even according to CRA this is true. Line 214 - What payments can you claim?

Is the Grandmother claiming any babysitting income? If she is not claiming it as income, then the mother did not pay anything. Gas to get there is not your issue. If she choose to send her there on her time, so be it.

[HappyMomma]

As far as I am aware, a parent, grandparent or immediate family member does not count as child care. Even according to CRA this is true. Line 214 - What payments can you claim?

CRA and family law don't always agree. There is case law to support paying a grandparent when it is for regular childcare ie: every day.

[Pickle]

Is the Grandmother claiming any babysitting income? If she is not claiming it as income, then the mother did not pay anything. Gas to get there is not your issue. If she choose to send her there on her time, so be it.

No, the ex came straight out and told me she is charging me for her gas to get there and back, not for childcare. I'm curious if a judge would order me to contribute to this considering if the ex hadn't sent our child there we would have had childcare expenses.

[HammerDad]

I'd simply refuse. The child visiting their grandparents during the other parents time is not a reimbursable expense.

Let them try to take you to court for $200-$300 in gas costs. It would cost them a few thousand in legal fees.

I'd reply that the child visiting the grandparents during her parenting time is her decision to further the relationship with the child. That you don't agree that visiting grandparents qualifies as child care and that even if it did, there were likely options available locally that could have been more convenient and/or less expensive.

Let her try and sell that it was child care and not the kid spending time with grandparents.