What is the Simplified Procedure in Ontario Superior Court and when does it apply?

Ontario's Simplified Procedure (Rule 76 of the Rules of Civil Procedure) is a streamlined litigation track in the Superior Court designed for cases where the claim amount is $200,000 or less (excluding interest and costs). It is intended to reduce cost and delay by imposing tighter limits on discovery and a mandatory trial procedure that is faster than a standard civil trial.

Under the Simplified Procedure, oral examinations for discovery are limited to a maximum of three hours per party. Documentary discovery obligations still apply, but the scope is generally proportionate to the size of the dispute. Trial is typically shorter, with each side given limited time to present evidence and argument, and the trial judge plays an active role in managing time.

Cases that qualify for and are conducted under the Simplified Procedure generally move through the system more quickly than standard track cases. Parties can also agree to use the procedure for claims above the mandatory threshold, though courts can return a case to ordinary procedure if the Simplified Procedure is shown to be inadequate.

Not all cases are well-suited to simplified procedure even if they qualify by amount. Cases involving complex issues, multiple defendants, or large volumes of documents may require the fuller discovery and trial process of the standard track to ensure fairness.