The court addresses the issue of forum shopping in civil proceedings, specifically the practice of commencing actions in judicial regions with no rational connection to the dispute.
The Royal Bank of Canada brought a collection action in Halton against defendants residing in Belleville.
The court finds that the plaintiff’s choice of venue was based solely on convenience to itself and its counsel, with no connection to Halton.
Relying on the Rules of Civil Procedure, case law, and the court’s inherent jurisdiction, the court directs the plaintiff to seek leave to transfer the action to the Central East Region, warning that forum shopping is no longer acceptable and places undue strain on judicial resources.
