The fees for Ontario Court Transcripts fall under two regulations which are set by the Ministry of the Attorney General
under the Administration of Justice Act
Ontario Court Transcripts - Request for Fee Increase Letter - March 7, 2025
THE AUTHORIZED COURT TRANSCRIPTIONISTS ASSOCIATION of ONTARIO
www.actao.ca
March 7, 2025
Ministry of the Attorney General
Court Services Division – Program Management Branch
McMurtry-Scott Building
720 Bay Street, 2nd Floor
Toronto, Ontario
M7A 2S9
ATTENTION:
Sheila Bristo - Assistant Deputy Attorney General – Court Services Division — [email protected]
Jaimie Lee - Director (A), Program Management Branch — Court Services Division — [email protected]
Copied:
Court Reporting Services – [email protected]
Dear Ms. Bristo and Ms. Lee:
Canada’s inflation rate at the time of writing is at a 30-year high, reaching 5.7% — the highest rate since August 1991. With skyrocketing prices; the fast-rising prices of groceries, gas, and utilities, housing and general cost of living, several Ontario Court Transcriptionists (ACTs) are requesting that regulation O.Reg 145/22 - fees for transcripts, be increased. The last increase was in February of 2022, prior to that, there was an increase in 2014 — that means there was no increase for eight years. Prior to that, there was no increase for 22 years; the fee remained stagnant.
We are now at the three-year mark without an increase. We are asking for at least a COLA allowance, particularly considering the high rate of inflation.
Ontario is one of the three highest Canadian provinces for COL (Cost of Living):
Ontario
British Columbia
Alberta
We are requesting regular yearly COLA increases, along with the following increase:
For ease of reference below is taken from the current fee schedule O. Reg. 145/22: FEES FOR COURT TRANSCRIPTS www.ontario.ca/laws/regulation/r22145
(1) Except as otherwise provided by this section, the following fees are payable to an authorized court transcriptionist:
1. To transcribe all or part of a recording and provide a certified transcript in electronic format, the greater of $25 (Increase to $30) and,
i. $11.75 per page (Increase to 14.00), if the transcript is to be provided within 24 hours,
ii. $8.80 per page (Increase to 10.50), if the transcript is to be provided within five business days, or
iii. $6.30 per page (Increase to 7.50), in any other case.
2. To transcribe all or part of a recording and provide a certified transcript in paper format, the greater of $25 (Increase to $30) and,
i. $12.55 per page (Increase to 14.50 - 15.00), if the transcript is to be provided within 24 hours,
ii. $9.60 per page (Increase to 11.30- 12.00), if the transcript is to be provided within five business days, or
iii. $7.10 per page (Increase to 8.50 – 9.00), in any other case.
3. For a certified transcript, in electronic format, of any part of a recording that has already been transcribed,
i. if ordered together with a certified transcript in paper format following transcription, no charge, or
ii. if not ordered together with a certified transcript in paper format following transcription, $25 (Increase to $30).
4. For a certified transcript, in paper format, of any part of a recording that has already been transcribed, the greater of $25 (Increase to $30) and 80 cents per page (Increase to .85)
5. To transcribe all or part of a recording and provide a transcript in an accessible electronic format, the fee payable under paragraph 1, determined by reference to the transcript before it is adapted for accessibility.
6. For a transcript, in an accessible electronic format, of any part of a recording that has already been transcribed,
i. if ordered together with a certified transcript following transcription, no charge, or
ii. in any other case, $25 (Increase to $30).
(2) The fees specified under paragraphs 1 and 2 of subsection (1) for transcription of all or part of a recording and provision of a certified transcript are not payable if,
(a) that part of the recording has already been transcribed by another authorized court transcriptionist; and
(b) the authorized court transcriptionist who receives the order to transcribe part of a recording that has already been transcribed fails to notify the ordering party of the existing transcription.
(3) In the case of a certified transcript of all or part of a recording that is being provided for use in an appeal, fees payable under paragraphs 1 and 2 of subsection (1) are payable only with respect to any newly-transcribed pages of the transcript, with the title and table of contents pages being treated as newly-transcribed pages.
(4) In the case of certified transcripts that are required to be filed in paper format with the Court of Appeal or Divisional Court in an appeal, the fees specified in this section are only payable with respect to a single certified transcript.
Please contact us at the email address below to discuss further.
The Authorized Court Transcriptionist Association of Ontario
www.actao.ca
[email protected]
THE AUTHORIZED COURT TRANSCRIPTIONISTS ASSOCIATION of ONTARIO
www.actao.ca
March 7, 2025
Ministry of the Attorney General
Court Services Division – Program Management Branch
McMurtry-Scott Building
720 Bay Street, 2nd Floor
Toronto, Ontario
M7A 2S9
ATTENTION:
Sheila Bristo - Assistant Deputy Attorney General – Court Services Division — [email protected]
Jaimie Lee - Director (A), Program Management Branch — Court Services Division — [email protected]
Copied:
Court Reporting Services – [email protected]
Dear Ms. Bristo and Ms. Lee:
Canada’s inflation rate at the time of writing is at a 30-year high, reaching 5.7% — the highest rate since August 1991. With skyrocketing prices; the fast-rising prices of groceries, gas, and utilities, housing and general cost of living, several Ontario Court Transcriptionists (ACTs) are requesting that regulation O.Reg 145/22 - fees for transcripts, be increased. The last increase was in February of 2022, prior to that, there was an increase in 2014 — that means there was no increase for eight years. Prior to that, there was no increase for 22 years; the fee remained stagnant.
We are now at the three-year mark without an increase. We are asking for at least a COLA allowance, particularly considering the high rate of inflation.
Ontario is one of the three highest Canadian provinces for COL (Cost of Living):
Ontario
British Columbia
Alberta
We are requesting regular yearly COLA increases, along with the following increase:
For ease of reference below is taken from the current fee schedule O. Reg. 145/22: FEES FOR COURT TRANSCRIPTS www.ontario.ca/laws/regulation/r22145
(1) Except as otherwise provided by this section, the following fees are payable to an authorized court transcriptionist:
1. To transcribe all or part of a recording and provide a certified transcript in electronic format, the greater of $25 (Increase to $30) and,
i. $11.75 per page (Increase to 14.00), if the transcript is to be provided within 24 hours,
ii. $8.80 per page (Increase to 10.50), if the transcript is to be provided within five business days, or
iii. $6.30 per page (Increase to 7.50), in any other case.
2. To transcribe all or part of a recording and provide a certified transcript in paper format, the greater of $25 (Increase to $30) and,
i. $12.55 per page (Increase to 14.50 - 15.00), if the transcript is to be provided within 24 hours,
ii. $9.60 per page (Increase to 11.30- 12.00), if the transcript is to be provided within five business days, or
iii. $7.10 per page (Increase to 8.50 – 9.00), in any other case.
3. For a certified transcript, in electronic format, of any part of a recording that has already been transcribed,
i. if ordered together with a certified transcript in paper format following transcription, no charge, or
ii. if not ordered together with a certified transcript in paper format following transcription, $25 (Increase to $30).
4. For a certified transcript, in paper format, of any part of a recording that has already been transcribed, the greater of $25 (Increase to $30) and 80 cents per page (Increase to .85)
5. To transcribe all or part of a recording and provide a transcript in an accessible electronic format, the fee payable under paragraph 1, determined by reference to the transcript before it is adapted for accessibility.
6. For a transcript, in an accessible electronic format, of any part of a recording that has already been transcribed,
i. if ordered together with a certified transcript following transcription, no charge, or
ii. in any other case, $25 (Increase to $30).
(2) The fees specified under paragraphs 1 and 2 of subsection (1) for transcription of all or part of a recording and provision of a certified transcript are not payable if,
(a) that part of the recording has already been transcribed by another authorized court transcriptionist; and
(b) the authorized court transcriptionist who receives the order to transcribe part of a recording that has already been transcribed fails to notify the ordering party of the existing transcription.
(3) In the case of a certified transcript of all or part of a recording that is being provided for use in an appeal, fees payable under paragraphs 1 and 2 of subsection (1) are payable only with respect to any newly-transcribed pages of the transcript, with the title and table of contents pages being treated as newly-transcribed pages.
(4) In the case of certified transcripts that are required to be filed in paper format with the Court of Appeal or Divisional Court in an appeal, the fees specified in this section are only payable with respect to a single certified transcript.
Please contact us at the email address below to discuss further.
The Authorized Court Transcriptionist Association of Ontario
www.actao.ca
[email protected]
CURRENT FEES FOR ONTARIO COURT TRANSCRIPTS
ONTARIO REGULATION 145/22
https://www.ontario.ca/laws/regulation/r22145
made under the
ADMINISTRATION OF JUSTICE ACT
FEES FOR ONTARIO (CANADA) COURT TRANSCRIPTS
“certified transcript” means a transcript of a recording that is certified in accordance with the regulations made under the Evidence Act for the purposes of subsection 5 (2) of that Act; (“transcription certifiée conforme”)
Fees 2. (1)
Except as otherwise provided by this section, the following fees are payable to an authorized court transcriptionist:
1. To transcribe all or part of a recording and provide a certified transcript in electronic format, the greater of $25 and,
i. $11.75 per page, if the transcript is to be provided within 24 hours,
ii. $8.80 per page, if the transcript is to be provided within five business days, or
iii. $6.30 per page, in any other case.
2. To transcribe all or part of a recording and provide a certified transcript in paper format, the greater of $25 and,
i. $12.55 per page, if the transcript is to be provided within 24 hours,
ii. $9.60 per page, if the transcript is to be provided within five business days, or
iii. $7.10 per page, in any other case.
3. For a certified transcript, in electronic format, of any part of a recording that has already been transcribed,
i. if ordered together with a certified transcript in paper format following transcription, no charge, or
ii. if not ordered together with a certified transcript in paper format following transcription, $25.
4. For a certified transcript, in paper format, of any part of a recording that has already been transcribed,
the greater of $25 and 80 cents per page.
ONTARIO REGULATION 145/22
https://www.ontario.ca/laws/regulation/r22145
made under the
ADMINISTRATION OF JUSTICE ACT
FEES FOR ONTARIO (CANADA) COURT TRANSCRIPTS
“certified transcript” means a transcript of a recording that is certified in accordance with the regulations made under the Evidence Act for the purposes of subsection 5 (2) of that Act; (“transcription certifiée conforme”)
Fees 2. (1)
Except as otherwise provided by this section, the following fees are payable to an authorized court transcriptionist:
1. To transcribe all or part of a recording and provide a certified transcript in electronic format, the greater of $25 and,
i. $11.75 per page, if the transcript is to be provided within 24 hours,
ii. $8.80 per page, if the transcript is to be provided within five business days, or
iii. $6.30 per page, in any other case.
2. To transcribe all or part of a recording and provide a certified transcript in paper format, the greater of $25 and,
i. $12.55 per page, if the transcript is to be provided within 24 hours,
ii. $9.60 per page, if the transcript is to be provided within five business days, or
iii. $7.10 per page, in any other case.
3. For a certified transcript, in electronic format, of any part of a recording that has already been transcribed,
i. if ordered together with a certified transcript in paper format following transcription, no charge, or
ii. if not ordered together with a certified transcript in paper format following transcription, $25.
4. For a certified transcript, in paper format, of any part of a recording that has already been transcribed,
the greater of $25 and 80 cents per page.
O. Reg. 2/05: FEE WAIVER
Fees for court transcripts cannot be waived
www.ontario.ca/laws/regulation/050002
Fees for court transcripts cannot be waived
www.ontario.ca/laws/regulation/050002
R. v. Vandergunst
[148] Access to justice must be available on a blind and equal footing to all those who seek it. Favouritism or
benefits bestowed at will in the exercise of individual discretion particularly with respect to the creation of a
record that protects the open court principle attacks the “heart and soul” of that principle. One and the same
fee applicable to all parties who request a transcript ensures fairness and impartiality for all participants, a
fundamental hallmark of the justice system.
[151] To allow otherwise would both undermine the administration of justice and bring
the administration of justice into disrepute.
[148] Access to justice must be available on a blind and equal footing to all those who seek it. Favouritism or
benefits bestowed at will in the exercise of individual discretion particularly with respect to the creation of a
record that protects the open court principle attacks the “heart and soul” of that principle. One and the same
fee applicable to all parties who request a transcript ensures fairness and impartiality for all participants, a
fundamental hallmark of the justice system.
[151] To allow otherwise would both undermine the administration of justice and bring
the administration of justice into disrepute.
