Cann v. Huxley, (1987) 78 N.S.R.(2d) 422 (FC)

• Case Date: October 31, 1986
• Jurisdiction: Nova Scotia
• Citations: (1987), 78 N.S.R.(2d) 422 (FC)

Cann v. Huxley (1987), 78 N.S.R.(2d) 422 (FC);

    193 A.P.R. 422

MLB headnote and full text

Calvin Lawrence Cann v. Elsie Doreen Huxley

Indexed As: Cann v. Huxley

Nova Scotia Family Court

Daley, J.F.C.

April 23, 1987.

Summary:

A couple were divorced in 1985. By that time the wife was involved in a stable common law relationship with another man. In 1986 the husband applied to terminate maintenance.

The Nova Scotia Family Court allowed the application.

Family Law - Topic 4017

Divorce - Corollary relief - Maintenance - Variation - Considerations - Conduct of parties - Common law relationship - The Nova Scotia Family Court granted a man's application to terminate maintenance to his ex-wife, where she was living in a stable common law relationship with another man - The court discussed the case law on the issue of whether a new relationship should terminate the maintenance obligation and stated four conditions necessary to disentitle a maintained spouse to maintenance: (1) There must be a living together as husband and wife so as it connotes an element of intention, permanence and commitment, some sort of stable relationship; (2) This stablility involves sexual activity and a commitment between the parties; (3) It generally necessitates living together under the same roof, sharing of household duties and responsibilities and financial support; (4) The couple would present themselves to their community or society as a couple living together as husband and wife.

Cases Noticed:

Soper v. Soper (1985), 67 N.S.R.(2d) 49; 155 A.P.R. 49; 44 R.F.L.(2d) 308, consd. [para. 7].

Jansen v. Montgomery (1982), 54 N.S.R.(2d) 267; 112 A.P.R. 267; 30 R.F.L. (2d) 332, consd. [para. 7].

Misener v. Misener (1977), 26 N.S.R.(2d) 622; 40 A.P.R. 622; 3 R.F.L. (2d) 21, consd. [para. 11].

Keddy v. Keddy (1974), 8 N.S.R.(2d) 158, consd. [para. 11].

Iverson v. Iverson, [1967] P. 134, consd. [para. 11].

McLean v. McLean (1975), 26 R.F.L. 115, consd. [para. 12].

Hogue v. Hogue (1984), 43 R.F.L.(2d) 212 (N.S.S.C.T.D.), consd. [paras. 12, 20].

Ewart v. Ewart (1979), 10 R.F.L.(2d) 73, consd. [para. 12].

Seeman, Re (1976), 13 O.R.(2d) 414; 28 R.F.L. 275 (Ont. H.C.), consd. [para. 12].

Miller v. Miller, [1960] All E.R. 115, consd. [para. 12].

Stead v. Stead, [1968] 1 All E.R. 989, consd. [para. 12].

Horlock v. Horlock (1984), 6 O.A.C. 142; 45 R.F.L.(2d) 164 (C.A.), consd. [para. 12].

Aubin v. Aubin (1985), 44 R.F.L.(2d) 37 (Ont. H.C.), consd. [para. 12].

Hodder v. Hodder (1976), 10 Nfld. & P.E.I.R. 82; 17 A.P.R. 82 (Nfld. S.C.), folld [para. 14].

Chaffey v. Chaffey (1976), 13 Nfld. & P.E.I.R. 150; 29 A.P.R. 150; 3 R.F.L. (2d) 69 (Nfld. S.C.), folld. [para. 14].

Carter v. Carter (1978), 3 R.F.L.(2d) 355, folld. [para. 14].

Neal v. Neal (1972), 8 R.F.L. 194, folld. [para. 14].

Wilson v. Wilson (1976), 4 F.L.D. 221 (B.C.), folld. [para. 14].

Morrow v. Morrow (1980), 18 R.F.L.(2d) 374, folld. [para. 14].

Bjornson v. Bjornson (1970), 2 R.F.L. 414 (B.C.C.A.), folld. [para. 14].

Wiebe v. Wiebe (1980), 16 R.F.L.(2d) 286 (Ont. C.C.), folld. [para. 14].

Barnard v. Barnard (1982), 30 R.F.L. (2d) 337 (Ont. C.A.), folld. [para. 14].

Richard v. Richard (1972), 7 R.F.L. 101, folld. [para. 14].

Gallant v. Gallant (1984), 59 Nfld. & P.E.I.R. 192; 150 A.P.R. 192; 42 R.F.L.(2d) 132 (Nfld. S.C.), folld. [para. 14].

Carmichael v. Carmichael (1985), 46 R.F.L.(2d) 121 (B.C.S.C.), folld. [para. 14].

Des Roches v. Des Roches (1977), 5 F.L.D. 254, folld. [para. 16].

Ball v. Ball (1982), 15 Man.R.(2d) 361; 27 R.F.L.(2d) 246 (Q.B.), consd. [para. 20].

Statutes Noticed:

Civil Procedure Rules (N.S.), rule 57.30 [para. 6].

Divorce Act, S.C. 1986, c. 4, sect. 17 [para. 6].

Authors and Works Noticed:

Power on Divorce (3rd Ed.), vol. I, pp. 119, 213 [para. 12].

Counsel:

John Filliter, for the applicant;

Loreen Clark, for the respondent.

This case was heard on September 30, and October 31, 1986, before Daley, J.F.C., of the Nova Scotia Family Court, who delivered the following judgment on April 23, 1987: