The Rules of Civil Procedure are being reimagined in
Ontario. On April 1, 2025, the Civil Rules Review
("CRR") Working Group published its
Phase 2 Consultation Paper (the
"Paper"), which outlines a new framework
proposed for Ontario's civil procedure.
The proposed framework will apply to all civil cases in the
Ontario Superior Court of Justice, excluding the Small Claims
Court. Modifications will be made for proceedings under the
Class Proceedings Act, the Bankruptcy and Insolvency
Act, non-contentious estate proceedings, and claims brought by
Indigenous people or communities alleging infringement or breach of
section 35 of the Constitution Act, 1982.
The Paper reviews the areas of concern in Ontario's civil
justice system that justify wide-ranging reforms: limited access to
justice, runaway costs, and excessive delays. In response, the CRR
has proposed wide-ranging changes to the civil litigation process
to increase efficiency, limit interlocutory motions, and
