Anna E. Sundin

The moving party father brought an urgent motion for parenting time with the children over the Christmas holidays and for an order that the responding party mother share equally in the travel costs.

The parties had previously agreed to the Christmas access, but disagreed on the apportionment of flight costs from Ottawa to Winnipeg.

The court reviewed the existing Final Order, which stipulated that the parties share transportation costs equally if the mother opted not to meet halfway.

The court ordered the parties to share the $4,054.62 flight costs equally and set out the logistical terms for the children's travel.

The applicant brought a motion to strike the respondent's pleadings, for summary judgment, and for interim child and spousal support.

The respondent, who had relocated to Switzerland, failed to comply with prior costs and travel expense orders and did not participate in the motion.

The court declined to strike the pleadings or grant summary judgment, finding that payment of the outstanding amounts from the respondent's share of the home sale proceeds was a sufficient remedy and that genuine issues for trial remained.

The court ordered retroactive and ongoing interim child and spousal support, to be paid from the respondent's share of the sale proceeds, and released $50,000 to the applicant from her share.