December 2013 - Rules Amending the Rules of the Supreme Court of Canada

Counsel are notified that the Rules Amending the Rules of the Supreme Court of Canada, SOR/2013-175, were published in Part II of the Canada Gazette on October 23, 2013. The amendments, which will come into force on January 1, 2014, apply to all cases.

The Rules and a guide to the amendments are available on this Web site.

These amendments include some significant changes to the Court’s practice.  One of these changes requires a party represented by counsel to file the electronic version — in addition to a paper copy — of the memorandum of argument in an application for leave to appeal or in any response to or reply with respect to such an application.  Another requires a motion related to an application for leave or a motion to a judge or the Registrar to be filed in electronic format in addition to the paper copy; this also applies to responses and replies.  Service of electronic documents may be made by email if the parties so agree.  The notice of name and certificates of counsel respecting publication bans or sealing orders and potential conflicts of interest are now to be filed as separate documents.  Finally, the Court Registry will open one hour earlier, at 8:00 a.m. ET. 

The changes are explained fully in the guide referred to above.  The Guidelines for Preparing Documents to be Filed with the Supreme Court of Canada (Print and Electronic) issued pursuant to Rule 21 have been updated to reflect the amendments to the Rules.

The Notice to the Profession of July 2012 respecting the filing of electronic documents for applications for leave to appeal is hereby rescinded.

For further information, please contact a Registry officer at 613-996-8666.

Roger Bilodeau, Q.C.
Registrar

December 2013