"Small Claims" Get Bigger—Increases To Monetary Limit For Small Claims In Alberta Will Impact Wrongful Dismissal Litigation

In December 2022, the Alberta legislature passed a bill allowing for an increase to the limit on civil claims in the Alberta Court of Justice (formerly, the Provincial Court of Alberta and sometimes referred to as "small claims court") from the existing maximum of $50,000 to up to $200,000. On April 5, 2023, following a survey of the courts and legal community, the government announced that the civil claim limit will raise to $100,000, effective August 1, 2023.

Any civil claims for amounts above $100,000 will still have to be brought at the Court of the King's Bench.

There are significant procedural differences between the Court of Justice and the Court of the King's Bench. As a result, the Alberta government's decision to double the maximum claim amount at the Court of Justice is likely to significantly alter the civil litigation landscape in Alberta, especially in the area of wrongful dismissal.