What is the Simplified Procedure in Ontario civil litigation and who qualifies?

Ontario's Simplified Procedure (formerly Rule 76, now integrated into the court's proportionality rules) applies to civil claims in the Superior Court where the amount at stake does not exceed a set monetary threshold or where the parties agree to use it. It is designed to reduce the time and cost of litigation by limiting discovery and setting tighter timelines than the full civil procedure rules.

Under the Simplified Procedure, documentary discovery and examinations for discovery are subject to restrictions on time and scope. Trials are also capped in length. This makes Simplified Procedure appropriate for moderate-value claims that do not require lengthy or complex discovery processes.

The monetary threshold for mandatory use of the Simplified Procedure has been adjusted over time, so it is important to check the current rules or confirm with a lawyer which procedure applies to your claim. If you have a straightforward, moderate-value case, the Simplified Procedure can significantly reduce your legal costs and get you to resolution faster than the ordinary procedure would.