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Judicial Decision Reasons
The Requirement of an Explanation of the What and Why
Last Updated: August 24 2026
Question: Do I have to receive reasons for a Small Claims Court decision in Ontario?
Answer: DK Legal Practice can help you understand whether a Small Claims Court judge must give reasons, and what “what” and “why” should appear in the decision for proper review or appeal in Ontario. In general, judges must provide an explanation for the decision, even though Small Claims reasons may be brief, as the court must permit meaningful appellate review by clearly stating what was decided and why it was decided, including the Small Claims Court’s statutory mandate under Courts of Justice Act, R.S.O. 1990, c. C.43 and the reasons requirement discussed in Elnasr v. Mostafa, 2022 ONSC 1735. If you need help assessing a decision or drafting your next-step plan with a paralegal, call (416) 906-6663.
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Are Small Claims Court Judges Required to Explain the Reasoning Behind a Decision?
Small Claims Court Decisions, Like Decisions In Other Courts, Must Be Explained By the Judge Providing the Reasoning For the Decision.
Understanding the Requirement of Reasons Within Judicial Decisions Including Small Claims Court Cases
A judge of any court, even the Small Claims court, is required to provide an explanation that explains what decision is made and why the decision is made. Reasons for a judicial decision work to ensure that the litigative parties can appreciate the legal basis upon which the decision was made. Reasons also enable an Appeal court to review the decision, if necessary.
The Law
A Small Claims Court judge, likely judges within other courts, is required to provide and explanation for a decision as per, among other cases, Elnasr v. Mostafa, 2022 ONSC 1735, which stated:
[28] In assessing the sufficiency of the Deputy Judge’s Reasons, I acknowledge the tremendous volume of matters in the Small Claims Court as well as the informal nature of the Small Claims Court. As stated in Maple Ridge Community Management Ltd. v. Peel Condominium Corp. No. 231, 2015 ONCA 520, 389 DLR (4th) 711, at paras. 34 and 35:
[34] The Small Claims Court is mandated under s. 25 of the Courts of Justice Act, R.S.O. 1990, c. C.43, to “hear and determine in a summary way all questions of law and fact and may make such order as is considered just and agreeable to good conscience.” The Small Claims Court plays a vital role in the administration of justice in the province by ensuring meaningful and cost effective access to justice for cases involving relatively modest claims for damages. In order to meet its mandate, the Small Claims Court’s process and procedures are designed to ensure that it can handle a large volume of cases in an efficient and economical manner.
[35] Reasons from the Small Claims Court must be sufficiently clear to permit judicial review on appeal. They must explain to the litigants what has been decided and why: Doerr v. Sterling Paralegal, 2014 ONSC 2335, at paras. 17-19. However, appellate consideration of Small Claims Court reasons must recognize the informal nature of that court, as well as the volume of cases it handles and its statutory mandate to deal with these cases efficiently. In short, in assessing the adequacy of the reasons, context matters: Massoudinia v. Volfson, 2013 ONCA 29, at para. 9. Just as oral reasons will not necessarily be as detailed as written reasons, reasons from the Small Claims Court will not always be as thorough as those in Superior Court decisions. Failing to take the Small Claims Court context into account only serves to restrict access to justice by unnecessarily imparting formality and delay into a legal process that is designed to be informal and efficient.
[29] Or, in other words, to permit meaningful appellate review, the reasons must adequately express “what” was decided and “why” it was decided, see: Maple Ridge, at para. 24; Law Society of Upper Canada v. Neinstein, 2010 ONCA 193, at para. 61.
[30] If the reasons are not sufficiently detailed to understand “the what” and “the why” for the decision under review, then this is an error in law and the standard of review is correctness, see Maple Ridge, at para 22; Barbieri v. Mastronardi, 2014 ONCA 416, at para. 22.
Conclusion
A judge in a Small Claims Court case is required explain a judicial decisions by providing reasons for the decision. Although an explanation in a Small Claims Court case may be provided without the level of details expected in a higher court case, the reasons must be adequate for review upon an Appeal.
NOTE: A considerable amount of inquiries featuring “lawyers near me” or “best lawyer in” frequently indicate an urgency for competent legal assistance rather than merely seeking a specific title. In Ontario, “licensed paralegals” fall under the regulation of the same Law Society that governs lawyers, granting them the authority to represent clients in certain litigation matters. Core functions of this role include advocacy, legal analysis, and procedural expertise. DK Legal Practice provides legal representation within its licensed parameters, focusing on strategic positioning, evidentiary preparation, and effective advocacy to attain timely and beneficial outcomes for clients.