Can a court-appointed guardian be removed in Ontario if they mismanage the incapable person's affairs?

Yes. An Ontario court can remove a guardian of property or of the person who mismanages the incapable person's finances or care, acts in a conflict of interest, fails to follow an approved management plan, or otherwise fails to act in the incapable person's best interests. An interested party — often another family member, or the Public Guardian and Trustee — can bring an application asking the court to remove the guardian and appoint a replacement.

The court generally looks at the evidence of what actually went wrong, how serious the mismanagement was, and whether the incapable person's property or wellbeing has been put at real risk, rather than removing a guardian over minor administrative shortcomings or personality conflicts among family members. Where mismanagement involves misused funds, the court can also address recovery of the losses separately from the removal itself. Because removing a guardian requires solid evidence and the right procedural steps, anyone concerned about how a guardian is handling their role should document their concerns and get legal advice promptly, rather than waiting to see if things improve.