COVID-19 Pandemic - Update

Latest news

List of the hearings postponed

The Court of Appeal has postponed the hearings on the roll for the following weeks:

• March 16 to 20, 2020;
• March 23 to 27, 2020;
• March 30 to April 3, 2020;
• April 6 to 9, 2020;
• April 14 to 17, 2020;
• April 20 to 24, 2020;
• April 27 to May 1, 2020;
• May 4 to 8, 2020;
• May 11 to 15, 2020.

Appeals decided without a hearing

In light of the current pandemic and its effects on the Court's activities, parties to an appeal are, in general, strongly urged to consider the possibility of availing themselves of art. 384 C.C.P., s. 72 of the Rules of the Court of Appeal of Quebec in Criminal Matters or s. 67 of the Regulation of the Court of Appeal of Quebec in Penal Matters and, where applicable, to present a joint request to the Court to have their appeal decided on the face of the record, without a hearing. If the Court decides that it is appropriate to proceed in this manner, it will notify the parties.

Suspension of time limits in civil matters

On March 15, 2020, the Chief Justice of Quebec and the Minister of Justice suspended civil procedure time limits during the health emergency period (Joint Order No. 2020-4251, March 15, 2020).

On August 31, 2020, the Chief Justice of Quebec and the Minister of Justice signed an order decreeing the lifting of the suspension of time limits in civil matters as of September 1, 2020 (Joint Order No. 2020-4303, August 31, 2020).

List of Orders in council renewing the state of health emergency for an additional period:

• The state of health emergency was declared for the first time on March 13, 2020, for a duration of 10 days (Council 177-2020).
• On March 20, 2020, the state of health emergency was renewed for an additional 10 days, until March 29, 2020 (Council 222-2020).
• On March 29, 2020, the state of health emergency was renewed for an additional 10 days, until April 7, 2020 (Council 388-2020).
• On April 7, 2020, the state of health emergency was renewed for an additional 10 days, until April 16, 2020 (Council 418-2020).
• On April 15, 2020, the state of health emergency was renewed for an additional 10 days, until April 24, 2020 (Council 460-2020).
• On April 22, 2020, the state of health emergency was renewed for an additional 8 days, until April 29, 2020 (Council 460-2020).
• On April 29, 2020, the state of health emergency was renewed for an additional 8 days, until May 6, 2020 (Council 483-2020).
• On May 6, 2020, the state of health emergency was renewed for an additional 8 days, until May 13, 2020 (Council 501-2020).
• On May 13, 2020, the state of health emergency was renewed for an additional 8 days, until May 20, 2020 (Council 509-2020).
• On May 20, 2020, the state of health emergency was renewed for an additional 8 days, until May 27, 2020 (Council 531-2020).
• On May 27, 2020, the state of health emergency was renewed for an additional 8 days, until June 3, 2020 (Council 544-2020).
• On June 3, 2020, the state of health emergency was renewed for an additional 8 days, until June 3, 2020 (Council 572-2020).
• On June 10, 2020, the state of health emergency was renewed for an additional 8 days, until June 17, 2020 (Council 593-2020).
• On June 17, 2020, the state of health emergency was renewed for an additional 7 days, until June 23, 2020 (Council 630-2020).
• On June 23, 2020, the state of health emergency was renewed for an additional 7 days, until June 30, 2020 (Council 667-2020).
• On June 30, 2020, the state of health emergency was renewed for an additional 7 days, until July 8, 2020 (Council 690-2020).
• On July 8, 2020, the state of health emergency was renewed for an additional 7 days, until July 15, 2020 (Council 717-2020).
• On July 15, 2020, the state of health emergency was renewed for an additional 7 days, until July 22, 2020 (Council 807-2020).
• On July 22, 2020, the state of health emergency was renewed for an additional 7 days, until July 29, 2020 (Council 811-2020).
• On July 29, 2020, the state of health emergency was renewed for an additional 7 days, until August 5, 2020 (Council 814-2020).
• On August 5, 2020, the state of health emergency was renewed for an additional 7 days, until August 12, 2020 (Council 815-2020).
• On August 12, 2020, the state of health emergency was renewed for an additional 7 days, until August 19, 2020 (Council 818-2020).
• On August 19, 2020, the state of health emergency was renewed for an additional 7 days, until August 26, 2020 (Council 845-2020).
• On August 26, 2020, the state of health emergency was renewed for an additional 7 days, until September 2, 2020 (Council 895-2020).

An Act respecting further COVID-19 measures

Extract from the summary of the Act respecting further COVID-19 measures

"Part 3 of the Act respecting further COVID-19 measures enacts the Time Limits and Other Periods Act (COVID-19) which addresses the need for flexibility in relation to certain time limits and other periods that are established by or under Acts of Parliament and that are difficult or impossible to meet as a result of the exceptional circumstances produced by COVID-19. In particular, the enactment :

1. suspends, for a maximum of six months, certain time limits in relation to proceedings before courts;
2. temporarily enables ministers to suspend or extend time limits and to extend other periods in relation to specified Acts and regulations for a maximum of six months; and;
3. provides for the transparent exercise of the powers it confers and for Parliamentary oversight over the exercise of those powers."

• An Act respecting further COVID-19 measures

Suspension of certains time limits in penal matters

On March 23, 2020, the Minister of Health and Social Services suspended certain time limits in the Code of Penal Procedure (Order No. 2020-009, March 23, 2020) including the following time limits:

• time limit for filing an application for leave to appeal (art. 296 C.P.P.);
• time limit for filing a written appearance in the Court of Appeal (art. 303 C.P.P.);
• time limit for filing a factum and proof of its service in the office of the Court of Appeal (arts. 304 and 305 C.P.P.).

On August 28, 2020, the Minister of Health and Social Services signed an order decreeing the lifting of the suspension of time limits in penal matters as of September 1, 2020 (Order No. 2020-060, August 28, 2020).

Time limits in criminal matters

Time limits in criminal matters have not been suspended.  Therefore, notices of appeal and applications for leave to appeal must be filed within the usual time limits, subject to such extensions as may be requested in accordance with the ordinary rules. In other respects, if parties believe they will not be able to meet the deadline for the filing of briefs or the documents that stand in lieu of the brief (appeal from a sentence), they are asked to send a letter by fax or an email (see the email addresses of the offices of the Court of Appeal below) in order to request an extension.  Given the exceptional circumstances, the Court of Appeal will adjust time limits accordingly.

Virtual courtroom

See the section dedicated to "Virtual courtoom".

Councils and Joint orders

• Council 177-2020 (March 13, 2020): CONCERNANT une déclaration d urgence sanitaire conformément à l’article 118 de la Loi sur la santé publique (only in French)
  
  
• Joint Order 2020-4251 (March 15, 2020): Order 2020-4251 of the Chief Justice of Québec and the Minister of Justice dated 15 March 2020 CONCERNING the suspension of prescription and procedural periods and the use of another means of communication by reason of the public health emergency declared on 13 March 2020
  
  
• Council 222-2020 (March 20, 2020): CONCERNANT le renouvellement de l’état d’urgence sanitaire conformément à l’article 119 de la Loi sur la santé publique et certaines mesures pour protéger la santé de la population (only in French)
  
  
• Council 2020-009 (March 23, 2020): Order of the Minister of Health and Social Services ordering of measures to protect the health of the population during the COVID-19 pandemic
  
  
• Joint Order 2020-4267 (March 27, 2020): Order 4267 of the Chief Justice of Québec and the Minister of Justice dated 27 March 2020 - CONCERNING the notification of a document by a technological means during the period of the public health emergency declared on 13 March 2020
  
  
• Council 388-2020 (March 29, 2020):CONCERNANT le renouvellement de l’état d’urgence sanitaire conformément à l’article 119 de la Loi sur la santé publique et certaines mesures pour protéger la santé de la population (only in French)
  
  
• Council 2020-013 (April 1, 2020): Arrêté de la ministre de la Santé et des Services sociaux -Concernant l'ordonnance de mesures visant à protéger la santé de la population dans la situation de pandémie de la COVID-19 (only in French)
  
  
• Council 418-2020 (April 7, 2020):CONCERNANT le renouvellement de l’état d’urgence sanitaire conformément à l’article 119 de la Loi sur la santé publique (only in French)
  
  
• Council 460-2020 (April 15, 2020):CONCERNANT le renouvellement de l’état d’urgence sanitaire conformément à l’article 119 de la Loi sur la santé publique (only in French)
  
  
• Council 478-2020 (April 22, 2020):CONCERNANT le renouvellement de l’état d’urgence sanitaire conformément à l’article 119 de la Loi sur la santé publique (only in French)
  
  
• Council 483-2020 (April 29, 2020):CONCERNANT le renouvellement de l’état d’urgence sanitaire conformément à l’article 119 de la Loi sur la santé publique (only in French)
  
  
• Council 501-2020 (May 6, 2020):CONCERNANT le renouvellement de l’état d’urgence sanitaire conformément à l’article 119 de la Loi sur la santé publique (only in French)
  
  
• Council 509-2020 (May 13, 2020):CONCERNANT le renouvellement de l’état d’urgence sanitaire conformément à l’article 119 de la Loi sur la santé publique (only in French)
  
  
• Council 531-2020 (May 20, 2020):CONCERNANT le renouvellement de l’état d’urgence sanitaire conformément à l’article 119 de la Loi sur la santé publique (only in French)
  
  
• Council 544-2020 (May 27, 2020):CONCERNANT le renouvellement de l’état d’urgence sanitaire conformément à l’article 119 de la Loi sur la santé publique (only in French)
  
  
• Council 572-2020 (June 3, 2020):CONCERNANT le renouvellement de l’état d’urgence sanitaire conformément à l’article 119 de la Loi sur la santé publique (only in French)
  
  
• Council 593-2020 (June 10, 2020):CONCERNANT le renouvellement de l’état d’urgence sanitaire conformément à l’article 119 de la Loi sur la santé publique (only in French)
  
  
• Council 630-2020 (June 17, 2020):CONCERNANT le renouvellement de l’état d’urgence sanitaire conformément à l’article 119 de la Loi sur la santé publique
  
  
• Council 667-2020 (June 23, 2020):CONCERNANT le renouvellement de l’état d’urgence sanitaire conformément à l’article 119 de la Loi sur la santé publique
  
  
• Order in council 689-2020 (June 25, 2020): Ordering of measures to protect the health of the population amid the COVID-19 pandemic situation
  
  
• Order in council 690-2020 (June 30, 2020):CONCERNANT le renouvellement de l’état d’urgence sanitaire conformément à l’article 119 de la Loi sur la santé publique
  
  
• Joint Order 4282 (July 6, 2020) of the Chief justice of Quebec and the minister of Justice dated July 6, 2020 CONCERNING the lifting of the suspension of certain time limits for extinctive prescription, forfeiture and civil proceedings
  
  
• Ministerial Order 2020-050 (July 7, 2020) of the Minister of Health and Social Services dated 7 July 2020 Ordering of measures to protect the health of the population amid the COVID-19 pandemic situation
  
  
• Order in council 717-2020 (July 8, 2020)- Renewal of the public health emergency pursuant to section 119 of the Public Health Act
  
  
• Order in council 807-2020 (July 15, 2020)- Renewal of the public health emergency pursuant to section 119 of the Public Health Act
  
  
• Order in council 810-2020 (July 15, 2020)- Ordering of measures to protect the health of the population amid the COVID-19 pandemic situation (obligation to wear a face cover in closed public places)
  
  
• Order in council 811-2020 (July 22, 2020)- Renewal of the public health emergency pursuant to section 119 of the Public Health Act
  
  
• Order in council 814-2020 (July 29, 2020)- Renewal of the public health emergency pursuant to section 119 of the Public Health Act
  
  
• Order in council 815-2020 (August 5, 2020)- Renewal of the public health emergency pursuant to section 119 of the Public Health Act
  
  
• Order in council 818-2020 (August 12, 2020)- Renewal of the public health emergency pursuant to section 119 of the Public Health Act
  
  
• Order in council 895-2020 (August 26, 2020)- Renewal of the public health emergency pursuant to section 119 of the Public Health Act
  
  
• Order 2020-060 (August 28, 2020): Order of the Minister of Health and Social Services ordering of measures to protect the health of the population amid the COVID-19 pandemic situation
  
  
• Joint Order 2020-4303 (August 31, 2020): Joint Order of the Chief Justice of Québec and the Minister of Justice concerning the lifting of the suspension of prescription and procedural periods in civil matters owing to the public health emergency declared on 13 March 2020

Contact information for the offices of the Court

• Office of the Court in Quebec City:  Fax: 418-646-6961 or courdappelqc@judex.qc.ca
• Office of the Court in Montreal: Fax: 514-864-7270 or courdappelmtl@judex.qc.ca