Limitations Act, 2002, S.O. 2002, c. 24, Sched. B (Historical version for the period January 1, 2022 to December 3, 2023)

• Jurisdiction: Ontario
• Coming into Force: 01 January 2022
• End of Effective Date: 03 December 2023
• Status: historical

Limitations Act, 2002

S.O. 2002, chapter 24
Schedule B

Consolidation Period: From January 1, 2022 to the e-Laws currency date.

Last amendment: 2021, c. 34, Sched. 9, s. 10.

CONTENTS

Definitions and Application

Definitions

1 In this Act,

“adverse effect” has the same meaning as in the Environmental Protection Act; (“conséquence préjudiciable”)

“assault” includes a battery; (“voies de fait”)

“claim” means a claim to remedy an injury, loss or damage that occurred as a result of an act or omission; (“réclamation”)

“contaminant” has the same meaning as in the Environmental Protection Act; (“contaminant”)

“discharge” has the same meaning as in the Environmental Protection Act; (“rejet”, “rejeter”)

“environmental claim” means a claim based on an act or omission that caused, contributed to, or permitted the discharge of a contaminant into the natural environment that has caused or is likely to cause an adverse effect; (“réclamation relative à l’environnement”)

“natural environment” has the same meaning as in the Environmental Protection Act. (“environnement naturel”) 2002, c. 24, Sched. B, s. 1.

Application

2 (1) This Act applies to claims pursued in court proceedings other than,

(a) proceedings to which the Real Property Limitations Act applies;

(b) proceedings in the nature of an appeal, if the time for commencing them is governed by an Act or rule of court;

(c) proceedings under the Judicial Review Procedure Act;

(d) proceedings to which the Provincial Offences Act applies;

(e) proceedings based on the existing aboriginal and treaty rights of the aboriginal peoples of Canada which are recognized and affirmed in section 35 of the Constitution Act, 1982;

(f) proceedings based on equitable claims by aboriginal peoples against the Crown; and

(g) proceedings to which the Limitation Convention or the Amended Limitation Convention, as defined in the International Sales Conventions Act, applies. 2002, c. 24, Sched. B, s. 2 (1); 2017, c. 2, Sched. 8, s. 5.

Exception, aboriginal rights

(2) Proceedings referred to in clause (1) (e) and (f) are governed by the law that would have been in force with respect to limitation of actions if this Act had not been passed. 2002, c. 24, Sched. B, s. 2 (2).

Section Amendments with date in force (d/m/y)

2017, c. 2, Sched. 8, s. 5 - 22/03/2017

Crown

3 This Act binds the Crown. 2002, c. 24, Sched. B, s. 3.

Basic Limitation Period

Basic limitation period

4 Unless this Act provides otherwise, a proceeding shall not be commenced in respect of a claim after the second anniversary of the day on which the claim was discovered. 2002, c. 24, Sched. B, s. 4.

Discovery

5 (1) A claim is discovered on the earlier of,

(a) the day on which the person with the claim first knew,

(i) that the injury, loss or damage had occurred,

(ii) that the injury, loss or damage was caused by or contributed to by an act or omission,

(iii) that the act or omission was that of the person against whom the claim is made, and

(iv) that, having regard to the nature of the injury, loss or damage, a proceeding would be an appropriate means to seek to remedy it; and

(b) the day on which a reasonable person with the abilities and in the circumstances of the person with the claim first ought to have known of the matters referred to in clause (a). 2002, c. 24, Sched. B, s. 5 (1).

Presumption

(2) A person with a claim shall be presumed to have known of the matters referred to in clause (1) (a) on the day the act or omission on which the claim is based took place, unless the contrary is proved. 2002, c. 24, Sched. B, s. 5 (2).

Demand obligations

(3) For the purposes of subclause (1) (a) (i), the day on which injury, loss or damage occurs in relation to a demand obligation is the first day on which there is a failure to perform the obligation, once a demand for the performance is made. 2008, c. 19, Sched. L, s. 1.

Same

(4) Subsection (3) applies in respect of every demand obligation created on or after January 1, 2004. 2008, c. 19, Sched. L, s. 1.

Section Amendments with date in force (d/m/y)

2008, c. 19, Sched. L, s. 1 - 27/11/2008

Minors

6 The limitation period established by section 4 does not run during any time in which the person with the claim,

(a) is a minor; and

(b) is not represented by a litigation guardian in relation to the claim. 2002, c. 24, Sched. B, s. 6.

Incapable persons

7 (1) The limitation period established by section 4 does not run during any time in which the person with the claim,

(a) is incapable of commencing a proceeding in respect of the claim because of his or her physical, mental or psychological condition; and

(b) is not represented by a litigation guardian in relation to the claim. 2002, c. 24, Sched. B, s. 7 (1).

Presumption

(2) A person shall be presumed to have been capable of commencing a proceeding in respect of a claim at all times unless the contrary is proved. 2002, c. 24, Sched. B, s. 7 (2).

Extension

(3) If the running of a limitation period is postponed or suspended under this section and the period has less than six months to run when the postponement or suspension ends, the period is extended to include the day that is six months after the day on which the postponement or suspension ends. 2002, c. 24, Sched. B, s. 7 (3).

(4) Repealed: 2016, c. 2, Sched. 2, s. 1.

Section Amendments with date in force (d/m/y)

2016, c. 2, Sched. 2, s. 1 - 08/03/2016

Litigation guardians

8 If a person is represented by a litigation guardian in relation to the claim, section 5 applies as if the litigation guardian were the person with the claim. 2002, c. 24, Sched. B, s. 8.

Appointment of litigation guardian on application or motion by potential defendant

Definitions

9 (1) In this section,

“potential defendant” means a person against whom another person may have a claim but against whom the other person has not commenced a proceeding in respect of the claim; (“défendeur éventuel”)

“potential plaintiff” means a person who may have a claim against another person but has not commenced a proceeding against that person in respect of the claim. (“demandeur éventuel”) 2002, c. 24, Sched. B, s. 9 (1).

Appointment of litigation guardian on application or motion by potential defendant

(2) If the running of a limitation period in relation to a claim is postponed or suspended under section 6 or 7, a potential defendant may make an application or a motion to have a litigation guardian appointed for a potential plaintiff. 2002, c. 24, Sched. B, s. 9 (2).

Effect of appointment

(3) Subject to subsection (4), the appointment of a litigation guardian ends the postponement or suspension of the running of the limitation period if the following conditions are met:

1. The appointment is made by a judge on the application or motion of a potential defendant.

2. The judge is satisfied that the litigation guardian,

i. has been served with the motion,

ii. has consented to the appointment in writing, or in person before the judge,

iii. in connection with the claim, knows of the matters referred to in clause 5 (1) (a),

iv. does not have an interest adverse to that of the potential plaintiff, and

v. agrees to attend to the potential plaintiff’s interests diligently and to take all necessary steps for their protection, including the commencement of a claim if appropriate. 2002, c. 24, Sched. B, s. 9 (3).

Non-expiry

(4) The limitation period shall be deemed not to expire against the potential plaintiff until the later of,

(a) the date that is six months after the potential defendant files, with proof of service on the litigation guardian,

(i) a notice that complies with subsection (5), and

(ii) a declaration that, on the filing date, the potential defendant is not aware of any proceeding by the litigation guardian against the potential defendant in respect of the claim; and

(b) the date on which the limitation period would otherwise expire after it resumes running under subsection (3). 2002, c. 24, Sched. B, s. 9 (4).

Notice

(5) The notice,

(a) shall not be served before the first anniversary of the appointment;

(b) shall identify the potential plaintiff, the potential defendant and the claim; and

(c) shall indicate that the claim could be extinguished if a proceeding is not promptly commenced. 2002, c. 24, Sched. B, s. 9 (5).

10 Repealed: 2016, c. 2, Sched. 2, s. 2.

Section Amendments with date in force (d/m/y)

2016, c. 2, Sched. 2, s. 2 - 08/03/2016

Attempted resolution

11 (1) If a person with a claim and a person against whom the claim is made have agreed to have an independent third party resolve the claim or assist them in resolving it, the limitation periods established by sections 4 and 15 do not run from the date the agreement is made until,

(a) the date the claim is resolved;

(b) the date the attempted resolution process is terminated; or

(c) the date a party terminates or withdraws from the agreement. 2002, c. 24, Sched. B, s. 11.

Same

(2) For greater certainty, a person or entity that provides resolution of claims or assistance in resolving claims, on an impartial basis, is an independent third party no matter how it is funded. 2006, c. 21, Sched. D, s. 1.

Section Amendments with date in force (d/m/y)

2006, c. 21, Sched. D, s. 1 - 19/10/2006

Successors

12 (1) For the purpose of clause 5 (1) (a), in the case of a proceeding commenced by a person claiming through a predecessor in right, title or interest, the person shall be deemed to have knowledge of the matters referred to in that clause on the earlier of the following:

1. The day the predecessor first knew or ought to have known of those matters.

2. The day the person claiming first knew or ought to have known of them. 2002, c. 24, Sched. B, s. 12 (1).

Principals and agents

(2) For the purpose of clause 5 (1) (a), in the case of a proceeding commenced by a principal, if the agent had a duty to communicate knowledge of...