Up-to-date Sector Information

Federal Court of Canada

The Law Foundation of Ontario (LFO) is seeking to appoint a person to act as its representative on the Law Commission of Ontario (LCO) Board of Directors. The Board is responsible for the overall supervision of the LCO, which is Ontario’s leading law reform agency. Appointments are for three years with a potential renewal for an additional term. The application deadline is Friday, November 6, 2020.

In response to a question raised about the resumption of limitation periods in our Justice Sector meeting, the OBA received the following message from LAWPRO

The Judicial Appointments Advisory Committee (JAAC) has advised it is inviting applications for a judicial position in Newmarket. “This appointment involves presiding over criminal law matters and also involves travel within the regional boundaries and elsewhere in the province of Ontario, as assigned by the Regional Senior Justice and/or the Chief Justice. Applications must be on the current prescribed form and RECEIVED BY 11:59 p.m. on Wednesday, October 21, 2020. Applications received after this date WILL NOT be considered. The Judiciary of the Ontario Court of Justice should reflect the diversity of the population it serves. Applications from members of equality-seeking groups are encouraged.”

FCA Time Limits Update The Federal Court of Appeal has issued a Direction pursuant to Rule 54 regarding the Attorney General of Canada’s interpretation of s. 6 of the Time Limits and Other Period Act (Covid-19). The Court has directed that the Attorney General’s interpretation of s. 6 of the Act, with respect to the time limits under the Federal Courts Rules and orders made thereunder, is incorrect in law and should not be followed. In short, the Federal Courts Rules, S.O.R./98-106 and the Court’s Practice Directions, judgments, orders and directions remain in full force and effect.

The Law Society Tribunal of the Law Society of Ontario has issued an updated Notice to the Professions and the Public. All appearances before the Tribunal are being held remotely, either by teleconference (for proceeding management conferences), or by zoom (for pre-hearing conferences and hearings). The Tribunal will accept materials that are filed either electronically or in hard copy. Further, since O. Reg. 73/20 will be revoked as of September 14, 2020 (see O. Reg. 457/20 , time periods will start to run again as of that date.

The Ministry of the Attorney General has issued a Notice to the Profession regarding changes to the Family Law Rules with respect to court forms. The following changes will take effect on September 1, 2020

CIPO has announced a further and final extension to August 24, 2020 of all deadlines on IP matters under the Patent Act, Trademarks Act and Industrial Design Act. At this time, CIPO is not planning any further extensions.

The Ontario government has announced its plan for the safe reopening of schools for in-class instruction in September. For more information, see the news release and the provincial guide to reopening schools.

The Ontario government announced today that the new COVID Alert app is available for download. The app, which is a part of the provincial government’s case and contact management strategy as regions enter into Stage 3 of reopening, lets users know if they may have been exposed to the COVID-19 virus.