FOLA Calls on Ontario Government for Broader Representation and Data-Driven Reform of Ontario’s Civil Litigation Rules

For Immediate Release: May 22, 2025

The Federation of Ontario Law Associations (FOLA) has passed a resolution urging the Ontario government to ensure that ongoing reforms to the Rules of Civil Procedure are representative, evidence-based, and reflective of the diverse realities of civil litigation across the province.

At the 2025 FOLA Spring Plenary – Annual General Meeting on May 16, 2025, FOLA members expressed deep concern over the current direction of the reform process led by the Attorney General of Ontario. The resolution highlights that the working group tasked with recommending changes is disproportionately Toronto-centric and focused on commercial litigation, failing to represent the broader legal community, including rural and regional practices.

FOLA’s membership, which primarily serves individuals and small businesses, warns that the proposed changes could significantly undermine access to justice. Key concerns include:

• Escalating litigation costs that could deter Ontarians from seeking legal recourse;
• Reduced opportunities for settlement, contrary to long-standing policy goals;
• Strain on judicial resources due to the removal of meaningful discovery processes; and
• Unique challenges for personal injury litigants, who often rely on procedural fairness to pursue claims.

The resolution calls on the Attorney General of Ontario and the Civil Rules Review Working Group

to:

1. Reconstitute the working group to reflect the full diversity of Ontario’s legal landscape, including regional, rural, and bilingual representation;
2. Ensure meaningful consultation with legal professionals across all regions and practice areas;
3. Ground recommendations in empirical data, rather than anecdotal input from a narrow segment of the bar;
4. Distribute the resolution to key legal organizations and make it publicly available.

“This is a pivotal moment for civil justice in Ontario,” said Douglas Judson, President of the Rainy River District Law Association and mover of the resolution. “We must ensure that reforms do not inadvertently create new barriers for the very people the justice system is meant to serve.”

The resolution was seconded by Katie Black, President of the County of Carleton Law Association, and passed unanimously by FOLA’s membership.

More Resources

A copy of the Resolution referred to is available here.

FOLA has taken several steps in regards to the Civil Rules Review consultation. A website listing all the steps taken so far is here.

About FOLA

FOLA is a non-profit organization that represents Ontario’s 46 county and district law associations. Most of FOLA’s members are sole practitioners or work in small firms across the province.

###

Contact:

Ian Hu

Director of Policy & Advocacy, FOLA

Email: ian.hu@fola.ca