Memorandum
To: Civil Bar Associations and Legal Organizations
From: Regional Senior Justice S. E. Firestone
Subject: Civil List Matters
Date: April 7, 2025
This memorandum is to advise counsel that in an effort to reduce delay and increase efficiency, effective May 1, 2025, the following changes will apply to certain practices on the Civil List in Toronto.
Hearing dates for Long Motions/Applications and Summary Judgment Motions before a Judge – Civil Practice Court (CPC)
Effective May 1, 2025, hearing dates will not be scheduled until all preliminary steps including cross-examinations and delivery of factums have been completed.
This change will assist in the elimination of “placeholder dates” being scheduled and will allow for the assignment of earlier dates. It will also help to prevent last-minute adjournments and cancellations and ensure that motions and applications that are ready to proceed can be heard on a timely basis.
CPC Court will continue to be used to curtail the motions culture in Toronto by vetting unnecessary motions; setting timetables; identifying cases which require a degree of case management and directing long motions to the trial list where appropriate.
The first attendance at CPC Court will determine whether a matter should be scheduled; whether it should proceed by way of motion or case conference and whether it should proceed in writing. Timetables will continue to be set. Following the completion of all preliminary steps the parties will then attend CPC Court to obtain a hearing date.
Factum Length
Effective May 1, 2025, factums for Civil List motions and applications will be limited to 20 pages unless leave for a longer factum is obtained at Civil Practice Court.
Request for Urgent Motions before a Judge or Associate Judge
Effective May 1, 2025, requests for urgent motions sent to CivilUrgentMatters-SCJ-Toronto@ontario.ca must be accompanied with the attached Civil Urgent Motions form which will also be available on the Superior Court of Justice Website.