April 27, 2023 – Converting an Offer Into a Court Order

“Conversion of an offer to settle into a court order is a discretionary remedy: see Milos v. Zagas (1998), 1998 CanLII 7119 (ON CA), 38 O.R. (3d) 218 (C.A.), at para. 15; Magnotta v. Yu, 2021 ONCA 185, at paras. 26-27.

This court has jurisdiction to hear an appeal of a discretionary order refusing to enforce a final settlement pursuant to r. 18(13)(a) motion under the RulesCourts of Justice Act, R.S.O. 1990, c. C.43, s. 6(1)(b). This is because a decision refusing to enforce a settlement agreement is final: Capital Gains Income Streams Corp. v. Merrill Lynch Canada Inc., 2007 ONCA 497, 87 O.R. (3d) 443, at para. 17.

Exercise of this discretion attracts deference. Where the relevant factors disclosed by the evidence are considered, “an appellate court will not generally interfere with the motion judge’s decision to grant, or not grant, judgment in accordance with an accepted offer,” Milos, at para. 19. In the family law context, this court has recognized that significant deference is owed, particularly in matters relating to support orders: Ballanger v. Ballanger, 2020 ONCA 626, at para. 22.”

         Dowdall v. Dowdall, 2021 ONCA 260 (CanLII) at 19-21