COURTS

Canadian Court System
Ontario Courts
CONTACT US
Paralegal Jurisdiction is italicized, underlined with a yellow background

A future article has a red comment after

FEDERAL

The top court is the Supreme Court of Canada judges of the Supreme Court have an equal amount of power as members of the cabinet or legislative assembly. The cases are the primary cases used as case law throughout the Country.
The Military Court is its own branch, other federal courts include the tax court, and federal court of appeal. In Canada, most jury trials are criminal and can be nullified but only caused by an error in law. Jury trials are only where a prison sentence of 5 years or more is in question.
The Federal Court of Canada deal with tax, military, marital, civil and tribunals listed below.
Federal tribunals include the listed one’s bellow and paralegals can practice in them all

1. Canada Agricultural Review Tribunal
2. Canada Industrial Relations Board
3. Canadian Broadcast Standards Council
4. Canadian Human Rights Commission (stay tuned for other articles)
5. Copyright Board of Canada
6. Patent Appeal Board
7. Competition Tribunal
8. Federal Public Sector Labour Relations and Employment Board
9. Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada
10. Mutual Fund Dealers Association
11. Occupational Health and Safety Tribunal Canada
12. Privacy Commissioner of Canada
13. Public Servants Disclosure Protection Tribunal
14. Social Security Tribunal of Canada
15. Specific Claims Tribunal Canada Indigenous land claims
16. Trademarks Opposition Board
17. Transportation Appeal Tribunal of Canada
18. Veterans Review and Appeal Board

PROVINCIAL

The highest Provincial court is the Ontario Court of Appeal, this court has power to appeal ALL decisions made by a provincial court. The Ontario Courts is split into two sections Ontario Courts of Justice and Superior Court of Justice.
I. Ontario Courts of Justice includes
1) Family division (stay tuned for other articles)
2) Provincial Offences (Paralegals)The Ontario Court of Justice hears virtually all provincial offences matters as well as offences against municipal by-laws. Examples of such cases include
a) Highway Traffic Act
b) Criminal Charges with fines under $5,000 or jail for less than 6 months (greater can also be managed but you may have a jury and you must have a lawyer not a paralegal)
c) Municipal by-law charges relating to excessive noise, animal control, or garbage disposal…
d) Charges laid under provincial legislation such as the Environmental Protection Act, Occupational Health, and Safety Act, (WSIB) Dog Owners’ Liability Act and the Trespass to Property Act.
II. Superior Courts of Justice includes
3) the Civil Superior Courts (Larger than Small Claims but civil)
4) Small Claims (Paralegal)
5) Divisional Court
The Divisional Courts hear appeals from courts and tribunals below them in the hierarchy. They are bound by the doctrine. In turn, they bind the courts below them in the hierarchy, including the ordinary High Court cases.
Below are the Provincial Boards and Tribunals (paralegals can do all of these)