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Perceptions of Polyamory in Canada University of Calgary PRISM: University of Calgary's Digital Repository Research Centres, Institutes, Projects and Units Canadian Research Institute for Law and the Family 2017-12-01 Perceptions of Polyamory in Canada Boyd, J.-P. E. Canadian Research Institute for Law and the Family. Boyd, J.-P. E. (2017). Perceptions of Polyamory in Canada (rep.). Calgary, AB: Canadian Research Institutue for Law and the Family http://hdl.handle.net/1880/107212 report Downloaded from PRISM: https://prism.ucalgary.ca PERCEPTIONS OF POLYAMORY IN CANADA Prepared by: John-Paul E. Boyd, M.A., LL.B. December 2017 Canadian Research Institute for Law and the Family Conducting meaningful research since 1987 308.301 14th Street NW, Calgary, AB T2N 2A1 +1.403.216.0340 [email protected] www.crilf.ca The Canadian Research Institute for Law and the Family is a non-profit, independent charitable institute affiliated with the University of Calgary. The major goals of the Institute are to undertake and promote interdisciplinary research, education, and publication on issues related to law and the family. The Institute’s mission and vision statement is: The Canadian Research Institute for Law and the Family, established in 1987, is the national leader in high-quality, multidisciplinary research on law, the family and children. The Institute seeks to achieve better outcomes for families and children by: • promoting the development and use of evidence-based research; • informing courts, government, professionals, academics, service providers and the public; and, • advising on the development of law, policy, processes and practices. The members of the Institute are: Marie Gordon, QC (President) David Day, QC (Vice-President) Eugene Raponi, QC (Treasurer) Jackie Sieppert (Secretary) Prof. Beth Archer-Kuhn Prof. Nicholas Bala Prof. Pallavi Banerjee Wendy Best, QC Prof. Rachel Birnbaum Michelle Christopher, QC Sarah Clarke David C. Dundee Robert Harvie, QC Krysta Ostwald Prof. Christopher Sprysak Prof. Janet Walker Prof. Jonnette Watson Hamilton The Honourable Debra Yungwirth The Institute’s honorary lifetime members are: The Honourable Heino Lilles The Honourable Herman Litsky The Honourable R. James Williams ii The views expressed in this report are those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of the board of directors of the Canadian Research Institute for Law and the Family. iii TABLE OF CONTENTS LIST OF FIGURES AND TABLES ................................................................................................... vi ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS AND PUBLICATION NOTES ................................................................. xiv FOREWORD .............................................................................................................................. xv 1.0 INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................................. 1 1.1 Purpose anD objectives .......................................................................................................... 3 1.2 MethoDoLogy .......................................................................................................................... 3 1.2.1 Ethical considerations ........................................................................................................ 3 1.2.2 Survey development .......................................................................................................... 4 1.2.3 Participant recruitment ..................................................................................................... 6 1.2.4 Data collection .................................................................................................................. 6 1.2.5 Analysis ............................................................................................................................. 6 1.3 Organization of the report...................................................................................................... 7 2.0 POLYAMOROUS RELATIONSHIPS AND THE LAW IN CANADA ............................................ 8 2.1 PoLyamorous inDiviDuaLs in society ........................................................................................ 8 2.2 PoLyamorous reLationships anD famiLy Law ............................................................................. 9 2.2.1 Children ........................................................................................................................... 12 2.2.2 Child support ................................................................................................................... 13 2.2.3 Spousal support and adult interdependent partner support ............................................ 14 2.2.4 Division of property ......................................................................................................... 15 2.2.5 The laws of Alberta and Canada’s other common law jurisdictions .................................. 15 2.3 PoLyamorous reLationships anD criminaL Law ........................................................................ 17 3.0 SURVEY FINDINGS ........................................................................................................... 20 3.1 Demographic anD iDentity characteristics ............................................................................ 20 3.1.1 Place of permanent residence and age ............................................................................ 20 3.1.2 Gender and ethnic identity .............................................................................................. 22 3.1.3 Sexuality .......................................................................................................................... 25 3.1.4 Religious affiliation .......................................................................................................... 29 3.1.5 Educational attainment ................................................................................................... 33 3.1.6 Personal income .............................................................................................................. 35 3.2 Characteristics of relationships anD househoLDs .................................................................. 38 3.2.1 Relationship status .......................................................................................................... 38 3.2.2 Relationship makeup and living arrangements ................................................................. 41 3.2.3 Relationship changes ....................................................................................................... 48 3.2.4 Household income ........................................................................................................... 49 3.2.5 Formalization of rights and responsibilities ...................................................................... 52 3.3 Perceptions of anD attituDes towarD poLyamory .................................................................. 56 3.3.1 Terminology .................................................................................................................... 56 3.3.2 Values ............................................................................................................................. 57 3.3.3 Views on the state of polyamory in Canada ..................................................................... 74 3.3.4 Views on public perceptions of polyamory....................................................................... 79 3.3.5 Impact of the criminalization of polygamy ....................................................................... 89 iv 4.0 SUMMARY, DISCUSSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS .................................................... 106 4.1 Weaknesses in the survey .................................................................................................. 106 4.2 Summary ............................................................................................................................ 109 4.2.1 Relationship status ........................................................................................................ 109 4.2.2 Demographic and identity characteristics ...................................................................... 110 4.2.3 Characteristics of respondents compared to the Canadian population ........................... 114 4.2.4 Formalization of rights and responsibilities .................................................................... 115 4.2.5 Views of and attitudes towards polyamorous relationships ........................................... 116 4.2.6 Perceptions of Canadian’s views of polyamory .............................................................. 120 4.2.7 Impact of the criminalization of polygamy ..................................................................... 122 4.3 Discussion........................................................................................................................... 125 4.4 RecommenDations ............................................................................................................. 128 4.4.1 Legislative reform and legal education........................................................................... 128 4.4.2 Further research ............................................................................................................ 132 REFERENCES ..........................................................................................................................
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