Three groups of amendments to the
Federal Courts Rules were approved by Her Excellency the Governor General in Council and registered on Dec. 13, 2021, and will come into force one month later, on Jan. 13, 2022.
Group 1. Amendments to the Federal Courts Rules
The Rules are amended to (a) allow the Courts to strike a balance between the importance and the complexity of the case and the amounts involved; (b) provide the Courts with the necessary tools to deal directly with dysfunctional or destructive conduct in the litigation process; (c) increase the effectiveness of the Federal Court of Appeal in managing motions and access to justice for litigants; and (d) reform the definition of “Christmas recess” and “holiday.”
Pre-publication in the Canada Gazette, Part I: April 10, 2021
Approval: PC Number 2021- 1002
Registration: Dec. 13, 2021 [SOR/ 2021- 0244]
Coming in Force: Jan. 13, 2022
Group 2. Amendments to the Federal Courts Rules (Enforcement)
The amendments to the Rules regarding the enforcement of orders address practical, procedural and
legal difficulties with considerations of efficiency, consistency, access to justice and the sensible use of judicial resources.
Pre-publication in the Canada Gazette, Part I: April 10, 2021
Approval: PC Number 2021-1003
Registration: Dec. 13, 2021 [SOR/ 2021- 0245]
Coming in Force: Jan. 13, 2022
Group 3. Amendments to the Federal Courts Rules (Limited-Scope Representation)
The amendments to the Rules add an option for a party to be represented by a lawyer on a defined,
limited mandate (i.e., for only part of the Court proceeding). This will increase the proportion of proceedings in the Federal Court of Appeal and the Federal Court in which litigants are represented by a
lawyer, whether on a limited or unlimited basis. Allowing litigants to have a lawyer represent them for only part of a legal proceeding will provide litigants with better access to justice while also making the Court process more efficient.
Pre-publication in the Canada Gazette, Part I: April 10, 2021
Approval: PC Number 2021- 1004
Registration: Dec. 13, 2021 [SOR/ 2021- 0246]
Coming in Force: Jan. 13, 2022
For more information, please contact the Secretary to the Federal Courts Rules Committee, Andrew Baumberg,
by email.