Two personal injury actions, arising from a 2014 collision, were commenced in North Bay.
The court, concerned about judicial resource shortages and the impact of R. v. Jordan timelines on civil matters, initiated discussions about transferring the actions to Ottawa, where the accident occurred.
The plaintiffs consented to the transfer, but the defendant opposed, arguing that a formal motion was required and that the transfer would be unfair given a prior decision to strike a jury notice to expedite the trial in North Bay.
The court, exercising its discretion under Rule 2.03 to dispense with the formal motion requirement, ordered the transfer, emphasizing that the interest of justice, particularly judicial availability in Ottawa, outweighed the defendant's objections to ensure the timely disposition of these long-standing cases.
