The ombudsman said no, or your dispute doesn't have one at all. Small claims court is the next step for most consumer, contractor, and private-sale disputes in Canada — designed to be used without a lawyer. Here are the real limits and where to file.
Before You File: Send a Demand Letter
Almost every small claims court expects you to have asked the other side to pay first, in writing, with a clear deadline (usually 10 days). Keep a copy — you'll attach it to your claim. ComplaintCA's AI drafting tool can help you write this letter in the right format for your province.
Small Claims Limits By Province
Ontario
Ontario Small Claims Court (part of the Superior Court of Justice) — limit raised from $35,000 effective October 1, 2025.
ontario.ca — Small Claims Court →British Columbia
Claims up to $5,000 must go through the online Civil Resolution Tribunal (CRT). Claims from $5,001–$35,000 go to the Provincial Court of BC, Small Claims.
civilresolutionbc.ca (under $5,000) →gov.bc.ca — Small Claims Court →
Alberta
Alberta Court of Justice, Civil Claims — the highest limit in Canada, raised from $50,000 in August 2023.
albertacourts.ca — Civil Claims →Quebec
Small Claims Division of the Court of Québec (principal amount only — interest can push the award higher). Lawyers cannot represent you at the hearing itself.
quebec.ca — Small Claims →Manitoba
Manitoba Small Claims Court — limit increased to $20,000 effective January 1, 2025.
gov.mb.ca — Small Claims Court →Saskatchewan
Provincial Court of Saskatchewan, Small Claims — limit increased to $50,000 effective April 1, 2024.
sasklawcourts.ca — Small Claims →Atlantic Canada, the territories, and higher amounts
Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, PEI, Newfoundland & Labrador, Yukon, NWT, and Nunavut each run their own small claims process with their own limit. Ask Asya above with your province named for the current figure. If your claim is above your province's limit, you can still file for the maximum and abandon the excess, or proceed in a higher court.
Where ComplaintCA Fits
ComplaintCA doesn't file the claim for you, but it can help you draft the demand letter that most courts require first, and Asya can tell you whether your situation is better suited to a free ombudsman route (already covered in our other guides) before you pay a filing fee.
Not sure if small claims is your next step? Ask Asya first.
Start with Asya Now →Frequently Asked
What is the small claims limit in Ontario?
$50,000 as of October 1, 2025 (up from $35,000), not including interest and costs.
What is the small claims limit in BC?
Up to $5,000 via the online Civil Resolution Tribunal; $5,001–$35,000 via BC Provincial Court Small Claims.
What is the small claims limit in Alberta?
$100,000 — the highest in Canada — through the Alberta Court of Justice, Civil Claims.
What is the small claims limit in Quebec?
$15,000 (principal only) through the Court of Québec's Small Claims Division. Lawyers can't represent you at the hearing.
Do I need a lawyer for small claims court?
No — it's designed for self-represented people. In Quebec, lawyers aren't permitted to represent you at the hearing at all.
Should I go to small claims court or keep complaining to the ombudsman?
Try the free ombudsman/regulator route first. Small claims makes sense once that's exhausted, or for disputes with no dedicated ombudsman.
What is ComplaintCA?
A Canadian civic platform that routes you to the correct authority, drafts complaints and demand letters with AI in 7 languages, and helps identify your best next step.
Sources & Verification
This guide is maintained by ComplaintCA and checked against the official sources linked throughout, including:
- Ontario Small Claims Court
- BC Provincial Court — Small Claims
- Alberta Court of Justice — Civil Claims
- Quebec — Small Claims
Learn more about how ComplaintCA verifies information on our About page.