The Chief Justice of Quebec, Manon Savard, and the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Quebec, Simon Jolin-Barrette, have announced that the suspension of time limits in civil matters and penal matters will be lifted as of September 1, 2020. On March 15, 2020, the Chief Justice of Quebec and the Minister of Justice had issued Order 2020-4251 suspending civil procedure time limits and time limits pertaining to extinctive prescription and forfeiture in civil matters. In addition, on March 23, 2020, the Minister of Health and Social Services had issued Order 2020-009 suspending certain time limits in penal matters. These measures will end on August 31, 2020. Thus, as of September 1, 2020, the time limits suspended by Orders 2020-4251 and 2020-009 will begin to run again for the time not yet elapsed.

This decision forms part of the gradual resumption of judicial activities in courthouses that was announced on May 28, 2020. If the health situation in Quebec were to deteriorate between now and September 1, 2020, the decision to lift the suspension of time limits could be reconsidered.