Courts in Quebec are planning to drop a pandemic-driven pause in limitation periods.

Back in March, after Covid-19 developed into a public health emergency, the province issued an order suspending civil procedure time limits. It later also suspended time limits in criminal cases.

The suspension for both civil and criminal cases will be lifted as of Sept. 1, and limitation periods will start running once again, the province announced on Thursday.

“This decision forms part of the gradual resumption of judicial activities in courthouses,” said a release.

However, if the health situation in Quebec deteriorates between now and then, “the decision to lift the suspension of time limits could be reconsidered.”