The parties separated after a traditional marriage where the wife was primarily responsible for child care and domestic duties while also working part-time.
Years later, the husband applied to terminate spousal support, arguing the wife should have achieved economic self-sufficiency.
The trial judge terminated support, but the Court of Appeal reinstated it.
The Supreme Court of Canada dismissed the husband's appeal, holding that the Divorce Act requires a fair and equitable distribution of resources to alleviate the economic consequences of marriage or its breakdown.
The Court rejected the strict self-sufficiency model, finding that all four objectives in section 17(7) of the Act must be considered, including compensation for economic disadvantages arising from the marriage.
