NEWFOUNDLAND AND LABRADOR REGULATION 43/15

1. Rule 7.19 of the Rules of the Supreme Court, 1986 is repealed and the following substituted:

Waiver or reduction of fees

7.19. (1) A person may apply to the Court to have the fees payable pursuant to the Supreme Court Fees Regulations waived or reduced.

(2) An application pursuant to this rule shall be in Form 7.19A and may be accompanied by an affidavit or supporting documents.

(3) An application pursuant to this rule may be made without notice to any other party.

(4) No fee shall be charged for an application pursuant to this rule or for any affidavit or documents filed in support of it.

(5) No document filed in support of an application pursuant to this rule may be used for any other purpose unless any required fees are paid or waived.

(6) Upon receipt of an application pursuant to this rule, the registrar shall

(a) waive the fees payable if the registrar is satisfied that the applicant is in receipt of income support under the Income and Employment Support Act, or

(b) forward the application to a judge.

(7) The Court may allow an application summarily at any time.

(8) The Court may allow an application in whole or in part if

(a) paying the fee would

(i) constitute an undue hardship for the applicant, and

(ii) prevent the applicant from advancing a non-frivolous and non-vexatious claim or defense; or

(b) the fee for accessing or copying documents would prevent the applicant from pursuing studies, reporting, or research in the public interest.

(9) In exercising its discretion under this rule, the Court may consider whether

(a) the applicant's claim, application, notice, defense, or filing

(i) discloses no reasonable claim or defence,

(ii) is scandalous, frivolous, or vexatious,

(iii) may prejudice, embarrass, or delay the course of a proceeding, or

(iv) is otherwise an abuse of the Court's process;

(b) the applicant's claim, application, notice, defense, or filing is pursued in good faith in the public interest;

(d) the applicant's proposed studies, reporting, or research is pursued in good faith in the public interest;

(e) the Court has already waived fees for the applicant; and

(f) the applicant has filed every document in the applicant's control that might support the applicant's claim.

2. The rules are amended by adding the following immediately after rule 7.19:

Exemption from costs

7.20. (1) A party may apply to the Court, with notice to all other parties, for an order that the party is to pay no costs in the proceeding.

(2) An application pursuant to this rule

(a) shall be in Form 7.20A;

(b) may be accompanied by an affidavit or supporting documents; and

(3) The Court may allow the application where

(a) the party is unable to afford to pay an award of costs;

(b) the risk of an award of costs being made against the party would prevent the party from advancing a non-frivolous and non-vexatious claim or defense; and

(4) An order made pursuant to this rule may be varied if the circumstances of the party change.

(5) An order made pursuant to this rule does not apply to proceedings initiated pursuant to rule 53.

3. The rules are amended by adding Forms 7.19A and 7.20A.

Form 7.19A

(rule 7.19)

20_____ ____G _______ (insert case number)

In the Supreme Court of Newfoundland and Labrador

Trial Division (General)

(Insert Title of Proceeding (if applicable))

Application for fee waiver and/or costs exemption

Please note that an application for fee waiver is governed by rule 7.19 – a copy of this rule may be found in the appendix at the end of this form.

The application of __________________________ (insert name of person applying), requests that the fees payable pursuant to the Supreme Court Fees Regulations be waived in whole or in part.

PART A – COMPLETE THIS PART IF YOU WANT THE COURT TO WAIVE OR REDUCE THE FEES PAYABLE FOR YOUR COURT PROCEEDING

1. I, _______________________________ (the applicant's name) am

(please tick one box below)

o in receipt of income support under the Income and Employment Support Act and I have attached documentary support of this to this application.

o not in receipt of income support.

Please complete the following only if you have answered “not in receipt of income support” for question 1.

2. My annual income for the last three years was:

$_______________________ (Year: ____________)

Please attach documentary support for these figures (Notices of Assessment from the Canada Revenue Agency, pay stubs, etc.) to this application– please note that failure to include this information may result in your application being denied.

3. Please set out details of your monthly expenses:

___________________________________________________________

Please attach documentary support for these figures (bills, etc.) to this application – please note that failure to include this information may result in your application being denied.

4. Please detail the nature of your claim, defense, appeal, etc. (you may also attach a copy of the document you intend to file if your application for a fee waiver/reduction is granted).

___________________________________________________________

5. Please set out any other information you think the Court should know about your ability to pay the fees required:

___________________________________________________________

Please attach documentary support for this information to this application– please note that failure to include this information may result in your application being denied.

PART B – COMPLETE THIS PART IF YOU ARE SEEKING TO HAVE FEES WAIVED TO CONDUCT PUBLIC INTEREST RESEARCH

6. Please detail the nature of your research:

___________________________________________________________

7. Please set out an estimate of costs you will incur to complete this research:

___________________________________________________________

I, ________________________, the Applicant, declare the contents of the within application are true to the best of my information and belief.

SWORN TO (OR AFFIRMED) at __________________________ (city/town) in the Province of _______________________this ________ day of ________________ (month), 20______.

______________________________ ______________________________

Commissioner of Oaths, Notary Public, Applicant's signature

Barrister, etc.

APPENDIX – Rule 7.19

Waiver or reduction of fees

7.19. (1) A person may apply to the Court to have the fees payable pursuant to the Supreme Court Fees Regulations waived or reduced.

(2) An application pursuant to this rule shall be in Form 7.19A and may be accompanied by an affidavit or supporting documents.

(3) An application pursuant to this rule may be made without notice to any other party.

(4) No fee shall be charged for an application pursuant to this rule or for any affidavit or documents filed in support of it.

(5) No document filed in support of an application pursuant to this rule may be used for any other purpose unless any required fees are paid or waived.

(6) Upon receipt of an application pursuant to this rule, the registrar shall

(a) waive the fees payable if the registrar is satisfied that the applicant is in receipt of income support under the Income and Employment Support Act, or

(b) forward the application to a judge.

(7) The Court may allow an application summarily at any time.

(8) The Court may allow an application in whole or in part if

(a) paying the fee would

(i) constitute an undue hardship for the applicant, and

(ii) prevent the applicant from advancing a non-frivolous and non-vexatious claim or defense; or

(b) the fee for accessing or copying documents would prevent the applicant from pursuing studies, reporting, or research in the public interest.

(9) In exercising its discretion under this rule, the Court may consider whether

(a) the applicant's claim, application, notice, defense, or filing

(i) discloses no reasonable claim or defence,

(ii) is scandalous, frivolous, or vexatious,

(iii) may prejudice, embarrass, or delay the course of a proceeding, or

(iv) is otherwise an abuse of the Court's process;

(b) the applicant's claim, application, notice, defense, or filing is pursued in good faith in the public interest;

(c) the applicant's claim, application, notice, defense, or filing raises a question of public importance;

(d) the applicant's proposed studies, reporting, or research is pursued in good faith in the public interest;

(e) the Court has already waived fees for the applicant; and

(f) the applicant has filed every document in the applicant's control that might support the applicant's claim.

Form 7.20A

(rule 7.20)

20_____ ____G _______ (insert case number)

In the Supreme Court of Newfoundland and Labrador

Trial Division (General)

(Insert Title of Proceeding (if applicable))

Application for costs exemption

Please note that an application for costs exemption is governed by rule 7.20 – a copy of this rule may be found in the appendix at the end of this form.

The application of __________________________ (insert name of person applying), requests that the applicant be held exempt from the payment of costs in this proceeding.

If you are submitting an application for fee waiver (in Form 7.19A) at the same time as this application, you do not need to complete PART A. Simply sign this request form below and attach this form to Form 7.19A.

PART A – COMPLETE THIS PART IF YOU WANT THE COURT TO EXEMPT YOU FROM THE PAYMENT OF ANY AWARD OF COSTS THAT MAY BE MADE AGAINST YOU IN THIS PROCEEDING

1. I, _______________________________ (the applicant's name) am

(please tick one box below)

o in receipt of income support under the Income and Employment Support Act and I have attached documentary support of this to this application.

o not in receipt of income support.

Please complete the following only if you have answered “not in receipt of income support” for question 1.

2. My annual income for the last three years was:

$_______________________ (Year: ____________)

3. Please set out details of your monthly expenses:

___________________________________________________________

Please attach documentary support for these figures (bills, etc.) to this application – please note that failure to include this information may result in your application being denied.

4. Please detail the nature of your claim, defense, appeal, etc.

___________________________________________________________

5. Please set out any other information you think the Court should know about your ability to pay a costs award if one was made against you:

___________________________________________________________

Please attach documentary support for this information to this application– please note that failure to include this information may result in your application being denied.

I, ________________________, the Applicant, declare the contents of the within application are true to the best of my information and belief.

SWORN TO (OR AFFIRMED) at __________________________ (city/town) in the Province of _______________________this ________ day of ________________ (month), 20______.

______________________________ ______________________________

Commissioner of Oaths, Notary Public, Applicant's signature

Barrister, etc.

APPENDIX – Rule 7.20

Exemption from costs

7.20. (1) A party may apply to the Court, with notice to all other parties, for an order that the party is to pay no costs in the proceeding.

(2) An application pursuant to this rule

(a) shall be in Form 7.20A;

(b) may be accompanied by an affidavit or supporting documents; and

(c) shall be filed no later than 30 days following the close of pleadings.

(3) The Court may allow the application where

(a) the party is unable to afford to pay an award of costs;

(b) the risk of an award of costs being made against the party would prevent the party from advancing a non-frivolous and non-vexatious claim or defense; and

(c) the Court is satisfied that the order would be in the best interests of justice.

(4) An order made pursuant to this rule may be varied if the circumstances of the party change.

(5) An order made pursuant to this rule does not apply to proceedings initiated pursuant to rule 53.