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Civil Justice Reform Projects

Apology Act Enacted

In 2006, the Apology Act was enacted. It prevents liability arising from an apology by providing that an apology does not constitute an admission of liability and by making the apology inadmissible for the purpose of proving liability. Also, the Act provides that an apology cannot be taken to be an expression of liability for the purpose of voiding insurance coverage.

This legislation is the first of its kind in Canada. Some U.S. states and all Australian states have enacted some form of apology legislation.

The Apology Act recognizes the value that society places on apologies as a way of redressing wrongs. It also recognizes the therapeutic impact of an apology on an injured person and that apologies can promote the early, effective and affordable resolution of disputes.