Skip to content

Update on Newfoundland and Labrador variation of limitation periods and statutory timelines during COVID-19 pandemic

Joe Thorne

In our update on April 2, 2020, Newfoundland and Labrador passes law to allow variation periods and statutory timelines during COVID-19 pandemic, we reported on Newfoundland and Labrador’s passage of the Temporary Variation of Statutory Deadlines Act (the “Act”).1

Since our last update, there have been several procedural variations enacted, but few substantive variations. However, that has changed in the past week.

On April 24, 2020, the Lieutenant-Governor in Council made an order under the Act2 extending:

  • Most of the limitation periods in the Limitations Act;3
  • Statutory deadlines in the Human Rights Act, 2010;4 and
  • Statutory deadlines in the Family Law Act.5

These variations will have a significant impact on litigants with claims in Newfoundland and Labrador.

Limitations Act

The Limitations Act establishes, in general, time limitations for beginning a claim in the courts of Newfoundland and Labrador.

Limitation periods are crucial dates because in almost all cases, if a claim is not filed on our before the period expires, the right to start the claim is extinguished. Expired limitation periods are a tremendous risk for both litigants and their lawyers.

A limitation period begins to run from the date that the loss or damage was suffered, or when the person bringing the claim ought to have known that loss or damage was suffered.

Depending on the nature of the claim, the limitation period for a claim may be 2 years, 6 years, 10 years, or 30 years. The majority of claims in this province are subject to a 2 year or 6 year limitation period.

The recent order made under the Act accommodates the impact of COVID-19 on normal personal and business operations by extending virtually all limitation periods6 under the Limitations Act by 6 months.

In particular, the order states that claims with a limitation period that would otherwise expire after March 14, 2020 and before September 14, 2020, may now be commenced on or before September 14, 2020.

Given the serious consequences of missing a limitation period, litigants should carefully review this order against the timing of any claim or potential claim.

Human Rights Act, 2010

The Lieutenant-Governor’s order extends:

  • The 12-month limitation period to file a complaint with the Human Rights Commission;
    • Any such right that would otherwise expire after March 14, 2020 and before September 14, 2020, may now be exercised on or before September 14, 2020;
  • The 30-day deadline to file a judicial review application from a total or partial dismissal of a complaint;
    • Any such right that would otherwise expire after March 14, 2020 and before September 14, 2020 may be exercised within 120 days from the date of service of the notice of dismissal;
  • The 30-day deadline to file an appeal and an application for leave to appeal a decision of a board of inquiry;
    • For appeals as of right, any such right that would otherwise expire after March 14, 2020 and before September 14, 2020 may be exercised within 120 days from the date of service of the order of the board of inquiry;
    • For applications for leave to appeal, any such right that would otherwise expire after March 14, 2020 and before September 14, 2020 may be exercised within 120 days from the date of service of the order of the board of inquiry.

Family Law Act

The Lieutenant-Governor’s order extends:

  • The 1 year, 2 year, or 6 year deadline for an application for division of matrimonial assets;
    • Any such right that would otherwise expire after March 14, 2020 and before September 14, 2020 may be exercised on or before September 14, 2020;
  • The 2 year deadline for an application for spousal support;
    • Any such right that would otherwise expire after March 14, 2020 and before September 14, 2020 may be exercised on or before September 14, 2020.

Other deadline variances

On April 24, 2020, the Minister of Justice made an order extending the time to apply to set aside an award made by an arbitrator under section 14(2) of the Arbitration Act.7 The 60-day deadline to make an application to the Supreme Court of Newfoundland and Labrador has been extended to 6 months, where the award is received after April 24, 2020 but before October 24, 2020.

An update will follow with any further developments.


1 SNL 2020, c T-4.02.
2 https://www.gov.nl.ca/snl/files/NLG20200424.pdf.
3 SNL 1995, c L-16.1.
4 SNL 2010, c H-13.1.
5 RSNL 1990, c F-2.
6 Including those limitation periods in sections 5, 6, 7, 9, 14(3), and 22.
7 RSNL 1990, c A-14.

This update is intended for general information only. If you have questions about the above, please contact a member of our Litigation & Alternative Dispute Resolution Group.

Click here to subscribe to Stewart McKelvey Thought Leadership articles and updates.

SHARE

Archive

Search Archive


 
 

Client Update: Make Your List and Check it Twice: IRAC Sends a Holiday Reminder to Municipalities

December 23, 2015

The Island Regulatory and Appeals Commission (the “Commission”) has issued a holiday reminder to municipalities in Prince Edward Island about the importance of preparation, accuracy, and transparency when making decisions related to land use and…

Read More

Nova Scotia Government Introduces Public Services Sustainability (2015) Act

December 16, 2015

By Brian G. Johnston, QC On the same day that the Nova Scotia government announced its projected deficit had ballooned to $241 million, it also introduced Bill 148, the Public Services Sustainability (2015) Act (“Act”). The stated purposes…

Read More

Striking down the Nova Scotia Cyber-safety Act: The 10 most interesting things about Crouch v Snell

December 16, 2015

By Jennifer Taylor – Research Lawyer Nova Scotia’s Cyber-safety Act1 is no more, after a successful Charterchallenge to the legislation. In Crouch v Snell, 2015 NSSC 340, Justice McDougall of the Supreme Court of Nova Scotia found the entire statute—enacted in…

Read More

Forsythe v Westfall: Forum of Necessity & Access to Justice

December 1, 2015

By Jennifer Taylor Introduction: Did Ontario have jurisdiction? Arguments about access to justice are not enough to oust the general principles of jurisdiction, according to a recent Ontario case. In Forsythe v Westfall, 2015 ONCA 810, the…

Read More

Client Update: Nova Scotia Court of Appeal Substantially Reduces Punitive Damages in LTD Case (Plus a Primer on the New Nova Scotia Limitations Act)

November 23, 2015

PART I: THE NSCA DECISION IN BRINE “Disability insurance is a peace of mind contract”: that’s the opening line of the Nova Scotia Court of Appeal’s long-awaited decision in Industrial Alliance Insurance and Financial Services Inc…

Read More

Client Update: Taxation of Trusts, Estates and Charitable Donation Rules Changing January 1, 2016

November 18, 2015

The taxation of estates, testamentary trusts and certain “life interest trusts” such as alter ego, joint partner and spousal trusts, and the rules for charitable donations made on death through an estate are changing significantly…

Read More

Update on New Tax Rules for Charitable Giving

November 18, 2015

Several important changes in the tax rules that apply to charitable gifts will be coming into effect in the near future. Some of the new rules take effect in 2016, and others will apply beginning…

Read More

Atlantic Employers’ Counsel – Fall 2015

October 23, 2015

THE EDITORS’ CORNER Michelle Black and Sean Kelly Trick, Treat or … Taunt? Workplace Bullying and Harassment Fall has arrived! The leaves are changing colours, families are stockpiling Halloween candy (some of which will actually last long…

Read More

The Fair Elections Act and #elxn42: A summary of Council of Canadians v Canada (Attorney General)

October 15, 2015

By Jennifer Taylor – Research Lawyer With the federal election just days away, voting is on Canadians’ minds. This will be the first election conducted in accordance with the Fair Elections Act, SC 2014, c 12 [“FEA”] which…

Read More

In the Three Certainties We Trust: The status of Builders’ Lien Act trust claims in bankruptcy

October 9, 2015

By Jennifer Taylor Introduction There is now a Nova Scotia decision on the interplay between the provincial Builders’ Lien Act and the federal Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act (“BIA”) in the interesting context of trusts. In Re Kel-Greg Homes Inc, Justice Rosinski…

Read More

Search Archive


Scroll To Top