What is the test for a joint endeavour?

Marriage is regarded as a “joint endeavour”. The “longer the relationship endures, the closer the economic union, the greater will be the presumptive claim to equal standards of living upon its dissolution”: Moge v. Moge, 1992 CanLII 25 (SCC), [1992] 3 S.C.R. 813 at 870, 99 D.L.R. (4th) 456.

Compensatory spousal support addresses the economic advantages enjoyed by one partner as a result of the other partner’s efforts during the marriage. It also addresses the contributions of a spouse to the marriage and their losses upon its breakdown. A long marriage does not, in and of itself, support an award of compensatory support. A long marriage supports an order for compensatory spousal support if the court concludes that such an order is necessary to achieve parity of living standards: Zacharias v. Zacharias, 2015 BCCA 376 at para. 48.