The Crown and Attorney General (collectively, “Ontario”) took no steps to defend the action within the 20-day period prescribed by the Rules of Civil Procedure. After weeks of silence, we gave notice of our intention to proceed with default consequences absent a formal defence. Only then—at the edge of procedural default—did counsel for Ontario request indulgence, which we granted in good faith. 
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Their Statement of Defence was served on June 24, 2025, the final day of the extended timeline—47 days after service of the claim. This was not a voluntary act of engagement. It was a reactive submission—triggered only after Ontario was placed on notice of our intention to proceed in default, at which point it reversed course and formally entered the record. 
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Despite denying liability, Ontario’s Statement of Defence formally joins issue on the core allegations at the heart of the claim. In doing so, it implicitly acknowledges that the proceeding raises serious and triable questions of fact and law—which are now properly the subject of adjudication.