The parties separated after nineteen years of marriage and agreed on an equal division of family assets.
The wife claimed a share of the husband's non-family assets, specifically Bell Canada shares and an RRSP acquired during the marriage.
The trial judge awarded her $20,000 under s. 8 of The Family Law Reform Act, which the Court of Appeal set aside.
The Supreme Court of Canada allowed the appeal in part, holding that the wife's financial contribution to the pooling of family finances entitled her to a $10,000 share of the non-family assets under s. 8, without needing to rely on constructive or resulting trust doctrines.
