In 2010, the Ontario Government increased the monetary limit of the Small Claims Court from $10,000.00 to $25,000.00.
On January 1, 2020 the monetary jurisdiction of the Small Claims Court will increase to $35,000.00 as the Government believes this will help resolve more matters expeditiously and reducing the number of matters proceeding in Superior Court.
There have been whispers for some time that the monetary jurisdiction would increase to $50,000.00 to catch up to other provinces in Canada, however $35,000.00 is a step in the right direction.
If history repeats itself, the Small Claims Court will be inundated with lawyers traversing their Superior Court files under $35,000.00 to the Small Claims Court. But like in the past, we all adapt and adjust to the onslaught of new matters being heard in Small Claims Court.
Hopefully this time around, additional administrative support and Deputy Judges will be hired so that the Small Claims Court process doesn’t bogged down.
Looks like I will be getting busier in the New Year!
Murray Brown, Licensed Paralegal