COURT FILE NO.: 684/19
DATE: 2022-01-26
ONTARIO
SUPERIOR COURT OF JUSTICE
BETWEEN:
Trevor James Douglas
Applicant
– and –
Jennifer Marie Douglas
Respondent
Virginia L. Workman
Bruce Macdonald
HEARD: May 19, 20, 21, 25, 26, 27, 28, 31, 2021; June 1, 2, 3, 2021; and July 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 2021
The honourable justice m. j. donohue
REASONS FOR JUDGMENT
ISSUES
[1] This family law trial required the court to decide the following issues:
(a) Should there be joint or sole decision-making authority regarding the couple’s eight-year-old son, “H”?
(b) What parenting schedule is in “H’s” best interests?
(c) Is the respondent mother entitled to spousal support; and if so, commencing when, for how much and for how long?
(d) What retroactive child support is owing; what ongoing child support is payable?
(e) What s. 7 order is appropriate?
(f) For equalization values, does the respondent mother owe a debt to her parents for a student loan or was it a gift?
(g) For equalization values, what amount is appropriate for household contents?
(h) What adjustment, if any, is appropriate for the carrying costs of the matrimonial home paid by the respondent?
(i) Ought there be an order for family counselling?
(j) A divorce.
OVERVIEW
[2] The parties began dating and co-habiting in 2006. They purchased their first home together in 2008. They married in 2011 and their son “H” was born in September 2013.
[3] In June 2018 the respondent mother was terminated by the city, without cause, from her employment of ten years. She struggled thereafter to obtain fresh employment. The parties began arguing over money.
[4] Six months later, in December