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Case information

Conduct a refined search of the Supreme Court of Canada database to obtain details on the status of a matter before the Court.


41437

Michael Lesage v. Attorney General of Ontario

(Ontario) (Civil) (By Leave)

Docket

Judgments on applications for leave to appeal are rendered by the Court, but are not necessarily unanimous.

List of proceedings
Date Proceeding Filed By
(if applicable)
2025-03-07 Close file on Leave
2025-03-06 Copy of formal judgment sent to Registrar of the Court of Appeal and all parties
2025-03-06 Judgment on leave sent to the parties
2025-03-06 Judgment of the Court on the application for leave to appeal, The application for leave to appeal from the judgment of the Court of Appeal for Ontario, Number COA-23-CV-1326, 2024 ONCA 500, dated June 21, 2024, is dismissed with costs.
Dismissed, with costs
2025-02-03 All materials on application for leave submitted to the Judges, for consideration by the Court
2024-11-13 Lower court order - e-filing, COA-23-CV-1326 Orders Michael Lesage
2024-10-28 Applicant's reply to respondent's argument, (Book Form), Completed on: 2024-10-28, (Printed version filed on 2024-10-29) Michael Lesage
2024-10-17 Certificate (on limitations to public access), 23A, (Printed version filed on 2024-10-18) Attorney General of Ontario
2024-10-17 Respondent's response on the application for leave to appeal, (Book Form), Completed on: 2024-10-17, (Printed version filed on 2024-10-18) Attorney General of Ontario
2024-10-03 Correspondence received from, CA Order form

No estimate provided
Michael Lesage
2024-09-17 Letter acknowledging receipt of an incomplete application for leave to appeal and without formal Court of Appeal order, FILE OPENED
2024-09-16 Certificate (on limitations to public access), 23A, (Printed version filed on 2024-09-17) Michael Lesage
2024-09-16 Application for leave to appeal, (Book Form), Missing:

- CA Orders (Rec'd 11-13-2024), Completed on: 2024-11-13, (Printed version filed on 2024-09-17)
Michael Lesage

Parties

Please note that in the case of closed files, the “Status” column reflects the status of the parties at the time of the proceedings. For more information about the proceedings and about the dates when the file was open, please consult the docket of the case in question.

Main parties

Main parties - Appellants
Name Role Status
Lesage, Michael Applicant Active

v.

Main parties - Respondents
Name Role Status
Attorney General of Ontario Respondent Active

Counsel

Party: Lesage, Michael

Counsel
Names
Thomas Slade
Cory Giordano
Contact information
Supreme Advocacy LLP
100 - 340 Gilmour Street
Ottawa, Ontario
K2P 0R3
Telephone: (613) 695-8855 Ext: 102
FAX: (613) 695-8580
Email: tslade@supremeadvocacy.ca
Agent
Name
Marie-France Major
Contact information
Supreme Advocacy LLP
340 Gilmour Street
Suite 100
Ottawa, Ontario
K2P 0R3
Telephone: (613) 695-8855 Ext: 102
FAX: (613) 695-8580
Email: mfmajor@supremeadvocacy.ca

Party: Attorney General of Ontario

Counsel
Names
Michael J. Sims
Byron Taylor-Conboy
Contact information
Attorney General of Ontario
720 Bay Street, 8th Floor
Toronto, Ontario
M7A 1W3
Telephone: (416) 420-4983
Email: michael.sims@ontario.ca
Agent
Name
Maxine Vincelette
Contact information
Juristes Power Law
50 O'Connor Street Suite 1313
Ottawa, Ontario
K1P 6L2
Telephone: (613) 702-5560
FAX: (613) 702-5573
Email: mvincelette@powerlaw.ca

Summary

Keywords

Courts — Open court principle — Access to information relating to the progress of civil trials in Ontario — Declaratory relief — What is the scope of the open court principle, and how is it to be balanced with judicial independence? — What is the proper approach to determining whether declaratory relief will serve a practical purpose?

Summary

Case summaries are prepared by the Office of the Registrar of the Supreme Court of Canada (Law Branch). Please note that summaries are not provided to the Judges of the Court. They are placed on the Court file and website for information purposes only.

The applicant, Michael Lesage, made a request for information relating to the progress of civil trials in Ontario. In addition to other information, he wanted to obtain the case numbers for each civil case disposed of by trial from 2015 onward in six Ontario court houses. His request for this information was denied, as well as his request for reconsideration. The applicant then applied for declarations relating to rights of inspection and production of civil court file numbers for cases that have gone to trial. He also sought an order in the nature of mandamus compelling the production of the refused information by the respondent, the Attorney General of Ontario. The Ontario Superior Court of Justice dismissed the application for declaratory relief and mandamus. The applicant appealed the decision with respect to declaratory relief only. The Court of Appeal for Ontario dismissed the appeal.

Lower court rulings

November 15, 2023
Ontario Superior Court of Justice

2023 ONSC 6444

Application for declaratory relief and mandamus dismissed.

June 21, 2024
Court of Appeal for Ontario

2024 ONCA 500

Appeal dismissed.

Filed documents

The memorandums of argument on an application for leave to appeal will be posted here 30 days after leave to appeal has been granted unless they contain personal information, information that is subject to a publication ban, or any other information that is not part of the public record. You may also obtain copies of the memorandum by filling out the Request for Court records form or by contacting the Court’s Records Centre either by email at records-dossiers@scc-csc.ca or by telephone at 613‑996‑7933 or at 1‑888‑551‑1185.

If you have questions about a memorandum of argument or want to use a memorandum of argument, please contact the author of the memorandum of argument directly. Their name appears at the end of the memorandum of argument. The contact information for counsel is found in the “Counsel” tab of this page.

Downloadable PDFs

Not available

The factums of the appellant, the respondent and the intervener will be posted here at least 2 weeks before the hearing unless they contain personal information, information that is subject to a publication ban, or any other information that is not part of the public record. You may also obtain copies of factums by filling out the Request for Court records form or by contacting the Court’s Records Centre either by email at records-dossiers@scc-csc.ca or by telephone at 613‑996‑7933 or at 1‑888‑551‑1185.

If you have questions about a factum or want permission to use a factum, please contact the author of the factum directly. Their contact information appears on the first page of each factum.

Downloadable PDFs

Not available

The condensed books of the appellant, the respondent and the intervener will be posted here upon receipt of the electronic version, 2 days prior to the scheduled appeal hearing. You may also obtain copies of condensed books by filling out the Request for Court records form or by contacting the Court’s Records Centre either by email at records-dossiers@scc-csc.ca or by telephone at 613‑996‑7933 or at 1‑888‑551‑1185.

If you have questions about a condensed book or want permission to use a condensed book, please contact the author of the condensed book directly. Their contact information appears on the first page of each condensed book.

Downloadable PDFs

Not available

Webcasts

Not available.

Date modified: 2025-03-08