Federal Courts Rules (SOR/98-106)

Regulations are current to 2013-05-20 and last amended on 2013-04-01. Previous Versions

Orders and Directions

Marginal note:Orders on terms
  •  (1) In making an order under these Rules, the Court may impose such conditions and give such directions as it considers just.

  • Marginal note:Other orders

    (2) Where these Rules provide that the Court may make an order of a specified nature, the Court may make any other order that it considers just.

Marginal note:Motion for directions

 A person may at any time bring a motion for directions concerning the procedure to be followed under these Rules.

Varying Rules and Dispensing with Compliance

Marginal note:Varying rule and dispensing with compliance

 In special circumstances, in a proceeding, the Court may vary a rule or dispense with compliance with a rule.

  • SOR/2004-283, s. 11.

Failure to Comply with Rules

Marginal note:Effect of non-compliance

 Non-compliance with any of these Rules does not render a proceeding, a step in a proceeding or an order void, but instead constitutes an irregularity, which may be addressed under rules 58 to 60.

Marginal note:Wrong originating document

 An originating document shall not be set aside only on the ground that a different originating document should have been used.

Marginal note:Motion to attack irregularity
  •  (1) A party may by motion challenge any step taken by another party for non-compliance with these Rules.

  • Marginal note:When motion to be brought

    (2) A motion under subsection (1) shall be brought as soon as practicable after the moving party obtains knowledge of the irregularity.

Marginal note:Orders on motion

 Subject to rule 57, where, on a motion brought under rule 58, the Court finds that a party has not complied with these Rules, the Court may, by order,

  • (a) dismiss the motion, where the motion was not brought within a sufficient time after the moving party became aware of the irregularity to avoid prejudice to the respondent in the motion;

  • (b) grant any amendments required to address the irregularity; or

  • (c) set aside the proceeding, in whole or in part.

Marginal note:Non-compliance with Rules or gap in case

 At any time before judgment is given in a proceeding, the Court may draw the attention of a party to any gap in the proof of its case or to any non-compliance with these Rules and permit the party to remedy it on such conditions as the Court considers just.

Commencement of Proceedings

Manner of Bringing Proceeding

Marginal note:Actions
  •  (1) Subject to subsection (4), a proceeding referred to in rule 169 shall be brought as an action.

  • Marginal note:Applications

    (2) Subject to subsection (4), a proceeding referred to in rule 300 shall be brought as an application.

  • Marginal note:Appeals

    (3) A proceeding referred to in rule 335 shall be brought as an appeal.

  • Marginal note:Exception

    (4) Where by or under an Act of Parliament a person is given the option of bringing a proceeding referred to in rule 169 or 300 as either an action or an application, the person may commence the proceeding as an action or as an application.