June 30, 2021 – Interpreting Arbitration Clauses

“In an Application to stay a proceeding because of an arbitration provision, the Court must first interpret the arbitration provision, then analyse the claims made to determine whether they must be decided by an arbitrator under the terms of the agreement as interpreted.  If the answer to the second question is “yes” then the proceeding should be stayed and the claims referred to arbitration subject to the exceptions in s. 7(2) of the Arbitration Act, 1991 (see MDG Kingston Inc. v. MDG Computers Canada Inc., 2008 ONCA 656, para. 14; Mantini v. Smith Lyons LLP (2003), 2003 CanLII 20875 (ON CA), 64 O.R. (3d) 505 (C.A.) at para. 17).”

         Gorman v. Kosowan, 2016 ONSC 4371 (CanLII) at 17