News Release

Ontario's Civil Courts Will Be Faster And More Affordable

McGuinty Government Reforms To Civil Justice System Take Effect January 1, 2010

December 30, 2009

News

On January 1, 2010, changes to Ontario's civil justice system will take effect. These changes will make it easier, faster and more affordable for people and businesses to access justice and use Ontario's civil courts to resolve disputes. These changes include:

• Increasing the monetary limit of the Small Claims Court from $10,000 to $25,000
• Increasing the monetary limit of Simplified or 'streamlined' Procedure from $50,000 to $100,000
• Limiting the pre-trial examination for discovery process where parties are questioned about their case to one day unless the parties agree or the court orders an extension
• Creating a general principle of proportionality in the Rules of Civil Procedure so the time and expense of each case reflects what is at stake.

Changes to dozens of court rules will come into effect on the first of January.

Quotes

"The civil justice reforms will increase the overall effectiveness of the system so that Ontarians have the access to justice they need and deserve. These reforms will be good for our economy, businesses and individuals."
- Attorney General Chris Bentley

Quick Facts

• The reforms were made as a result of former Associate Chief Justice Coulter Osborne's report on the civil justice system and from the advice the Attorney General received last year directly from Ontarians.
• Examples of everyday money disputes that can be resolved in Small Claims Court include failure to pay for goods and services, not paying back a debt and damage to property.

Learn More

Read about the Civil Justice Reform Project.

Learn more about Small Claims Court.

Contacts

Erin Moroz
Minister's Office, 416-326-1785

Brendan Crawley
Communications Branch, 416-326-2210

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