1. Function

The Civil Rules Committee may make rules of court for the Court of Appeal and Superior Court of Justice in relation to the practice and procedure of those courts in all civil proceedings, subject to the approval of the Attorney General. This power is granted under the Courts of Justice Act, R.S.O. 1990, c.C43, s.66.

The Civil Rules Committee does not make rules relating to the practice and procedure of proceedings for which the Family Rules Committee may make rules.

The Committee meets throughout the year to discuss proposals for rule changes expressed by the judiciary, lawyers, and the Ministry of the Attorney General.

The Committee is not part of the Ministry of the Attorney General. For information about agencies created under legislation see: http://www.pas.gov.on.ca/scripts/en/generalInfo.asp#1.

To access the civil court rules, visit:
Rules of Civil Procedure
Rules of the Small Claims Court

2. Committee membership

Membership of the Committee is prescribed by the Courts of Justice Act, R.S.O. 1990, c.C43, s.65(2).

The 29 Committee members include judges, lawyers, representatives of court services and members of the private bar.

The 4 members appointed by the Attorney General are appointed by ministerial letter pursuant to the Courts of Justice Act, s.65(2) (see: http://www.pas.gov.on.ca/scripts/en/BoardDetails.asp?boardID=1373).

The membership is set out below.

ORGANIZATION	MEMBER TYPE	MEMBER NAME	APPOINTING BODY (Pursuant to Courts of Justice Act)	TOTAL BY MEMBER TYPE
Ontario Court of Appeal	Chief Justice of Ontario	Chief Justice Ontario W. Winkler	Chief Justice Ontario
Ontario Court of Appeal	Associate Chief Justice of Ontario	ACJO D. O'Connor (chair)	Chief Justice Ontario
Ontario Court of Appeal	Judge	Justice Goudge	Chief Justice Ontario
Ontario Court of Appeal	Judge	Justice Armstrong	Chief Justice Ontario	4
Superior Court of Justice	Chief Justice Superior Court of Justice	Chief Justice H.J.Smith	Chief Justice Superior Court of Justice
Superior Court of Justice	Associate Chief Justice Superior Court of Justice	Associate Chief Justice J. D. Cunningham	Chief Justice Superior Court of Justice
Superior Court of Justice	Judge	Justice E. Then	Chief Justice Superior Court of Justice
Superior Court of Justice	Judge	Justice C. Hackland	Chief Justice Superior Court of Justice
Superior Court of Justice	Judge	Justice S. Glithero	Chief Justice Superior Court of Justice
Superior Court of Justice	Judge	Justice F. Van Melle	Chief Justice Superior Court of Justice
Superior Court of Justice	Judge	Justice M.F. Brown	Chief Justice Superior Court of Justice
Superior Court of Justice	Judge	Justice L.C. Leitch	Chief Justice Superior Court of Justice
Superior Court of Justice	Judge	Justice I. Nordheimer	Chief Justice Superior Court of Justice
Superior Court of Justice	Judge	Justice G. Pardu	Chief Justice Superior Court of Justice	10
Ontario Court of Justice	Chief Justice OCJ or designate	Justice G. Sparrow	Chief Justice Ontario Court of Justice	1
Small Claims Court	Small Claims Court judge	Justice Pamela Thompson	Chief Justice Superior Court of Justice	1
Ministry of Attorney General	Attorney General or designate	John Twohig (General Counsel, Policy Division)	Attorney General
Ministry of Attorney General	Law officer of the Crown	Malliha Wilson (Assistant Deputy Attorney General, Legal Services Division)	Attorney General
Ministry of Attorney General	Courts administration staff	Ann Merritt (Assistant Deputy Attorney General, Court Services Division)	Attorney General
Ministry of Attorney General	Courts administration staff	Susan Charendoff (Director, Civil Policy and Programs Branch, Court Services Division)	Attorney General	4
	Lawyers	Kristopher Knutsen Q.C.	Law Society Upper Canada
	Lawyers	Mark D. Lerner	Law Society Upper Canada
	Lawyers	Ronald G. Slaught Q.C.	Law Society Upper Canada
	Lawyers	Susan Vella	Law Society Upper Canada
	Lawyers	W.A. Derry Millar	Chief Justice Ontario
	Lawyers	Patrick Schmidt	Chief Justice Superior Court of Justice
	Lawyers	Stephen Cavanagh	Chief Justice Superior Court of Justice
	Lawyers	John Callaghan	Chief Justice Superior Court of Justice
	Lawyers	Marvin Huberman	Chief Justice Superior Court of Justice	9
Total members				29

3. Contact

To suggest improvements to the civil court rules, you may contact:

John Kromkamp
Secretary
Civil Rules Committee
Court of Appeal for Ontario
130 Queen Street West
Toronto, Ontario M5H 2N5

For more information see: http://www.ontariocourts.on.ca/coa/en/about/information.htm