The impact of Covid-19 and the courts of Ontario

BY BY NANA ADJEI-POKU

For the safety of the members of the public, anyone experiencing any of the symptoms of Covid-19 are advised not to attend court.  Please avoid all unnecessary visits to the courthouses.

The following rules have been implemented and apply to the various levels of courts in Ontario.

Pursuant to the Emergency Management and Civil Protection Act, all limitation periods for any legal action, have been suspended for the duration of the Covid-19 emergency.

Superior Court Matters

Civil and family court

All matters scheduled to be heard between March 13^th, 2020 and April 3^rd, 2020 have been suspended. Only urgent and emergency matters will be heard.  These matters will be 1) any matter relating to public health and safety and Covid-19 and any family law or child protections matters that are deemed urgent.

Civil (Small Claims Court) and commercial list

Only urgent and time-sensitive motions or applications where there will be immediate repercussions will be dealt with as well as any outstanding warrants issued regarding small claims court or superior court civil proceedings.

In regard to these matters, all urgent materials must be emailed to the respective courts listed on the Ontario court website below.  Please note that the materials being emailed must not exceed 10MB.

Criminal court

All criminal matters have been suspended effective March 17^th, 2020.  If you were to attend court in March, your matter has been adjourned to be heard on June 2^nd, 2020.  If you were to attend court in April, your matter has been adjourned to be heard on June 3^rd, 2020 and, if you were to attend court in May, your matter will be heard on June 4^th, 2020.  This may be further adjourned by the Courts.

Any urgent criminal matters will continue to be heard remotely.

Provincial offences

All Provincial Offences Act matters scheduled until May 29^th, 2020 will be rescheduled.  Notices will be mailed out to the addresses on file for defendants.

For more information and/or updates, please visit www.ontariocourts.ca news releases.

Tribunal Matters

One of the most asked about tribunals are matters before the Landlord and Tenant Board.  Please be advised that all evictions that were made pursuant to orders of the Landlord and Tenant Board have been suspended.  A landlord may still serve you with the eviction order, but it will not be enforced until further notice to all parties.

Most of the tribunals are still receiving applications and documents electronically.  All in-person hearings have been suspended.