Yes No Share to Facebook
Judicial Decision Reasons:
The Requirement of an Explanation of the What and Why
Last Updated: August 22 2026
Question: Can a paralegal help me understand what reasons a Small Claims Court judge must give for the decision?
Answer: In Ontario Small Claims Court, a judge is required to provide reasons that explain both what was decided and why, so the parties can understand the outcome and, if needed, seek meaningful appellate review; courts assess reason sufficiency by looking at the context and the “what” and “why,” including how the Small Claims Court is designed for efficient, informal access to justice, as reflected in Elnasr v. Mostafa, 2022 ONSC 1735 and Maple Ridge Community Management Ltd. v. Peel Condominium Corp., 2015 ONCA 520. If you need help interpreting the decision’s reasons or spotting missing reasoning grounds for an appeal strategy, Vescio Legal Services can assist call (416) 400-8255.
Add this website to Google Preferred Sources
Judges Are Required to Explain the Reasons for a Decision
A judge of the Small Claims Court, like other courts, must provide details that explain the reasoning for the decisions made by the judge. The mandate is known as the duty to provide reasons and is necessary to ensure that the parties to a dispute understand the reasoning for a decision as well as to ensure a review, if necessary, upon Appeal.
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
Judges, including Small Claims Court judge, must explain the basis for a decision. While the reasons may be expressed with less detail than a case in the higher court, the reasons must be sufficient for a review by an Appeal court if such situation were to occur.
NOTE: A significant number of online searches featuring “lawyers in my area” or “top lawyer in” often indicate an urgent need for effective legal assistance rather than a particular title. In Ontario, the same Law Society that governs lawyers also regulates licensed paralegals, permitting them to represent clients in specific litigation matters. Advocacy, legal analysis, and procedural expertise are key components of that function. Vescio Legal Services provides legal representation within its licensed framework, focusing on strategic approach, evidence preparation, and compelling advocacy designed to secure efficient and advantageous outcomes for clients.