Date: 20210825
Docket: 2021-255(GST)I
BETWEEN:
CHRISTIANE JOBIN AND ROGER COUTURE,
Appellants,
and
HER MAJESTY THE QUEEN,
Respondent.
[OFFICIAL ENGLISH TRANSLATION]
ORDER AND REASONS FOR ORDER
Jorré D.J.
[1]
The respondent filed an application for an order of the Court granting the respondent leave to file her reply to the notice of appeal despite the expiration of the period for doing so.
[2]
The respondent requested that the application be disposed of upon consideration of written submissions, and the appellants also filed written submissions.
[3]
The appellants object to the application.
[4]
The essential facts are as follows:
The deadline for filing the reply was April 16, 2021;
Counsel for the respondent completed the reply on April 8, 2021;
The reply to the notice of appeal was served on the appellants on April 12, 2021;
Counsel for the appellant gave instructions for the reply to be filed with the court registry by April 16, 2021, but despite those instructions, a misunderstanding resulted in the notice of appeal not being filed until April 21, 2021;
A letter was sent to the appellants on April 23, 2021, requesting their consent to the late filing of the notice of appeal;
The appellants did not consent to the late filing; and
On April 27, 2021, the respondent filed a notice of application for an extension of time to file the reply.
[5]
This Court may allow the filing of a reply before or after the normal period for filing a reply to the notice of appeal: see section 18.16 of the Tax Court of Canada Act.
[6]
The appellants object on three grounds. First, they object because the Agence du Revenu du Québec has thousands of employees who must necessarily know the rules. Second, they object because in earlier litigation the Agence du Revenu du Québec attempted, apparently unsuccessfully, to quash the proceedings initiated by the appellants as being out of time. Third, they object because, in their opinion, the Agence du Revenu du Québec applied undue pressure on them to consent to the extension of time.
[7]
The criteria for an application for an extension of time are well established.
[8]
In Canada (Attorney General) v. Hennelly, 1999 CanLII 8190 (FCA), the Federal Court of Appeal established that the following must be considered:
a continuing intention to pursue his or her application;
that the application has some merit;
that no prejudice to the respondent arises from the delay; and
that a reasonable explanation for the delay exists.
[9]
In Canada (Attorney General) v. Larkman, 2012 FCA 204 (CanLII), at para. 62, Stratas J.A. provided the following explanation:
These questions guide the Court in determining whether the granting of an extension of time is in the interests of justice: Grewal, supra at pages 277–278. The importance of each question depends upon the circumstances of each case. Further, not all of these four questions need be resolved in the moving party's favour. For example, "a compelling explanation for the delay may lead to a positive response even if the case against the judgment appears weak, and equally a strong case may counterbalance a less satisfactory justification for the delay": Grewal, at page 282. In certain cases, particularly in unusual cases, other questions may be relevant. The overriding consideration is that the interests of justice be served. . . .
[Emphasis added.]
[10]
The first two grounds raised by the appellants are not relevant to the application of the above criteria; the criteria must always be applied in the context of the particular facts of the case.
[11]
As to the third ground, the respondent stated in a letter to the appellants that if the Minister were obliged to seek leave of the Court, the appellants would be compelled to respond to the application and the consequence could be a delay of the appeal. That is not undue pressure; the respondent simply described the consequences of an application for leave.
[12]
The respondent's delay was minimal, there was always an intention to defend the assessment, there can be no prejudice to the appellants, and there is a reasonable explanation for the delay.
[13]
In the circumstances, it is clearly in the interests of justice to grant an extension of time.
THIS COURT ORDERS that:
the period for replying to the notice of appeal be extended to the date of this order; and
2.
the reply to the notice of appeal received by this Court on April 21, 2021, be deemed to be filed on the date of this order.
Signed at Ottawa, Canada, this 25th day of August 2021.
"Gaston Jorré"
Translation certified true
on this 3rd day of September 2021.
Janine Anderson, Jurilinguist
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