This post was originally published March 20, 2020 and was
last updated on September 14, 2020 to reflect developments at the
Alberta Court of Queen's Bench and the Supreme Court of
Newfoundland and Labrador.
In response to the COVID-19 outbreak, Courts across Canada have
weighed the seriousness of the situation and the importance of
prioritizing the health and safety of all court participants, with
the principles of open courts and timely access to justice. This
balancing exercise resulted in the implementation of a wide range
of preventative measures that will help minimizing the spread of
the COVID-19 virus across Canada, while allowing the Courts to hear
urgent or essential matters during the outbreak. In brief, Canadian
Courts have restricted access, suspended or limited their
operations, and have consequently suspended prescription or
limitation periods, as the case may be.
