56
[239] The underlying foundation of a common issue is whether its resolution will avoid
duplication of fact-finding or legal analysis of an issue that is a substantial ingredient of each class
member’s claim and thereby facilitate judicial economy and access to justice.107
[240] An issue is not a common issue if its resolution is dependent upon individual findings of
fact that would have to be made for each class member.108 Common issues cannot be dependent
upon findings which will have to be made at individual trials, nor can they be based on assumptions
that circumvent the necessity for individual inquiries.109 All members of the class must benefit
from the successful prosecution of the action, although not necessarily to the same extent. The
answer to a question raised by a common issue for the plaintiff must be capable of extrapolation,
in the same manner, to each member of the class.110
[241] The common issue criterion presents a low bar.111 An issue can be a common issue even if
it makes up a very limited aspect of the liability question and even though many individual issues
remain to be decided after its resolution.112 Even a significant level of individuality does not
preclude a finding of commonality.113A common issue need not dispose of the litigation; it is
sufficient if it is an issue of fact or law common to all claims and its resolution will advance the
litigation.114
[242] From a factual perspective, the plaintiff must show that there is some basis in fact that: (a)
the proposed common issue actually exists; and (b) the proposed issue can be answered in common
across the entire class, which is to say that the Plaintiff must adduce some evidence demonstrating
that there is a colourable claim or a rational connection between the Class Members and the
proposed common issues.115 The plaintiff must establish some basis in fact for the existence of the
common issues in the sense that there is some factual basis for the claims made to which the
107 Western Canadian Shopping Centres Inc. v. Dutton, 2001 SCC 46 at paras. 39 and 40.
108 Fehringer v. Sun Media Corp., [2003] O.J. No. 3918 at paras. 3, 6 (Div. Ct.).
109 McKenna v. Gammon Gold Inc., [2010] O.J. No. 1057 at para. 126 (SCJ), leave to appeal granted [2010] O.J. No.
3183 (Div. Ct.), var’d 2011 ONSC 3882 (Div. Ct.); Nadolny v. Peel (Region), [2009] O.J. No. 4006 at paras. 50-52
(S.C.J.); Collette v. Great Pacific Management Co., [2003] B.C.J. No. 529 at para. 51 (BCSC), var’d on other
grounds (2004) 42 B.L.R. (3d) 161 (BCCA).
110 Batten v. Boehringer Ingelheim (Canada) Ltd., 2017 ONSC 53, aff’d, 2017 ONSC 6098 (Div. Ct.), leave to
appeal refused (28 February 2018) (C.A.); Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Society of Essex County v. Windsor (City),
2015 ONCA 572 at para. 48; McCracken v. CNR, 2012 ONCA 445 at para. 183; Merck Frosst Canada Ltd. v.
Wuttunee, 2009 SKCA 43 at paras. 145-46 and 160, leave to appeal to S.C.C. refused, [2008] S.C.C.A. No. 512;
Ernewein v. General Motors of Canada Ltd., 2005 BCCA 540 (C.A.), leave to appeal to S.C.C. ref’d, [2005]
S.C.C.A. No. 545; Western Canadian Shopping Centres Inc. v. Dutton, 2001 SCC 46 at para. 40.
111 203874 Ontario Ltd. v. Quiznos Canada Restaurant Corp., [2009] O.J. No. 1874 (Div. Ct.), aff’d [2010] O.J. No.
2683 (C.A.), leave to appeal to S.C.C. refused [2010] S.C.C.A. No. 348; Cloud v. Canada (Attorney General)
(2004), 73 O.R. (3d) 401 at para. 52 (C.A.), leave to appeal to the S.C.C. ref'd, [2005] S.C.C.A. No. 50, rev'g (2003),
65 O.R. (3d) 492 (Div. Ct.); Carom v. Bre-X Minerals Ltd. (2000), 51 O.R. (3d) 236 at para. 42 (C.A.).
112 Cloud v. Canada (Attorney General), (2004), 73 O.R. (3d) 401 (C.A.), leave to appeal to the S.C.C. ref'd, [2005]
S.C.C.A. No. 50, rev'g (2003), 65 O.R. (3d) 492 (Div. Ct.).
113 Hodge v. Neinstein, 2017 ONCA 494 at para. 114; Pro-Sys Consultants Ltd. v. Microsoft Corporation, 2013 SCC
57 at para. 112; Western Canadian Shopping Centres Inc. v. Dutton, 2001 SCC 46 at para. 54.
114 Harrington v. Dow Corning Corp., [2000] B.C.J. No. 2237 (C.A.), leave to appeal to S.C.C. ref’d [2001]
S.C.C.A. No. 21.
115 Jensen v. Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd., 2021 FC 1185; Kuiper v. Cook (Canada) Inc., 2020 ONSC 128 (Div.
Ct.).