Recent amendments to Rule 76 of the Ontario Rules of Civil
Procedure will help to reduce legal costs and
streamline the litigation process in the province.
Claims Under the Simplified Procedure Rule
In Ontario, individuals and businesses may file a civil court
claim using what’s known as the simplified procedure in Rule
76 of the Rules of Civil Procedure. The simplified procedure allows
parties to move through the litigation process with fewer
procedural steps and, as a result, provides a more efficient and
less costly framework.
Amendments to Rule 76 were introduced in October 2019 and came
into effect as of January 1, 2020. A civil claim of up to $200,000,
exclusive of costs and interest, must now be filed under the
Simplified Procedure Rule. Prior to January 1, 2020, the limit for
filing a claim was $100,000. (Simultaneously, the monetary
jurisdiction of the Ontario Small Claims Court has increased to
$35,000 from $25,000).
