August 7, 2024 – No Right to Purchase or Right of First Refusal

“The court does not have the authority to grant a spouse the right to purchase the other’s interest in the matrimonial home or the right of first refusal: Martin v. Martin1992 CanLII 7402 (ON CA)[1992] 8 O.R. (3d) 41.

In Brienza, Perell J. summarized the law at paras. 37 and 38:

The court does not have the jurisdiction to compel one co-owner to sell to the other, although the co-owners may participate in the court-ordered sale of the property in the open market; Osborne v. Myette[2004] O.J. No. 3383 (S.C.J.)Legg v. Draper-Legg[2004] O.J. No. 606 (S.C.J.)Greenbanktree Power Corp. v. Coinamatic Canada Inc., supra.

The court does not have the jurisdiction under the Partition Act to grant a right of first refusal to either co-owner: Dibattista v. Menecola (1990), 1990 CanLII 6888 (ON CA), 75 O.R. (2d) 443 (C.A.)In Silvasupra, the court noted that where a sale is ordered, the respondent may bid in the sale. See also: Glick v. Carr[1991] O.J. No. 1588 (Gen. Div.).

See also: Buttar v. Buttar2013 ONCA 517 (CanLII), at para. 64: “This court has jealously guarded the rights of joint owners to the best price for jointly-owned property”; Laurignano v. Laurignano2009 ONCA 241 (CanLII), at para. 3Watson v. Watson2015 ONSC 2091 (CanLII), at paras. 34-37McColl v. McColl1995 CanLII 7343 (ON SC), at para. 29; and Kokaliaris v. Palantzas, 2016 ONSC 198 (CanLII), at para. 44.”

         Khan v. Khan, 2019 ONSC 4687 (CanLII) at 19-21