May 24, 2022 – The Test for Finding “Acquiescence”

“The application judge found that Mr. Jackson had acquiesced to Jailen’s remaining in Ontario…

The standard for finding acquiescence is high. “Clear and cogent” evidence of “unequivocal acquiescence” is required. See Katsigiannis, supra, at para. 49. Ordinarily the test for acquiescence is subjective, but as Lord Brown-Wilkinson said in Re H. and Others (Minors) (Abduction: Acquiescence), [1998] A.C. 72, [1997] 2 All E.R. 225 (H.L.) at p. 90 A.C.:

Where the words or actions of the wronged parent clearly and unequivocally show and have led the other parent to believe that the wronged parent is not asserting or going to assert his right to the summary return of the child and are inconsistent with such return, justice requires that the wronged parent be held to have acquiesced.”

Jackson v. Graczyk, 2007 ONCA 388 (CanLII) at 49-50