S.A.R. Group Relocation Inc. v. Canada (Attorney General), 2002 FCA 99

                                                                                                                                            Date: 20020313

                                                                                                                                          Docket: A-14-02

                                                                                                                  Neutral citation: 2002 FCA 99

CORAM:        STRAYER J.A.

BETWEEN:

                                              S.A.R. GROUP RELOCATION INC., and

                                               SUSAN A. RYAN REAL ESTATE LTD.

                                                                                                                                                      Applicants

                                                                                 and

                                                ATTORNEY GENERAL OF CANADA

                                                                                                                                                   Respondent

                                                            REASONS FOR ORDER

STRAYER J.A.

[1]                 The applicants, apply through Susan A. Ryan, the president of each corporation, for an order under Rule 120 allowing them to be represented by her instead of by a lawyer in a judicial review of a decision of a Deputy Judge of the Tax Court of Canada. The ground for seeking such an order is that the applicants can no longer afford to hire a lawyer to represent them.

[2]                 For the Court to make such an order in these circumstances it must be satisfied that the corporations are truly unable to pay for a lawyer and that the person sought to be allowed to represent them has indeed been authorized by the corporations to represent them. (Source Services Corp. v. Source Personal Inc. (1995) 165 F.T.R. 42; Re NsC Diesel Power Inc. (Bankrupt) (1995) 96 F.T.R. 161). There is no clear evidence here on either point. Further, it is relevant to consider whether the proposed representative would also be a witness, as counsel cannot appear in cases where they are witnesses. (See Kobetek Systems Ltd. v. R. [1998] 1 C.T.C. 308). In the present application for judicial review Susan A. Ryan has filed a purported affidavit (not yet sworn) which indicates she expects to be the principal witness as well as acting in role of counsel. This is another circumstance which militates against the Court making an order under Rule 120.

[3]                 The motion will therefore be dismissed without costs.

          (s) "B.L. Strayer"             

J.A.