True or False: The court has jurisdiction to award costs against representatives of parties, including paralegals or lawyers.

The statement is true because the court in Ontario does have the jurisdiction to award costs against representatives of parties, which includes both paralegals and lawyers. This principle is grounded in the idea that representatives of parties, whether they are legal professionals or not, play a crucial role in the legal process and are responsible for their conduct in court.

When a party’s representative acts improperly or engages in conduct that unnecessarily prolongs proceedings or increases costs, the court can impose cost orders to discourage such behavior and to maintain respect for the judicial process. This authority ensures that both lawyers and paralegals are held accountable for their actions in legal proceedings, thereby promoting fairness and efficiency in the legal system.

In contrast, the other options suggest limitations on this jurisdiction. The idea that the court can only award costs against lawyers or only in civil matters does not accurately reflect the broader scope of the court's authority. Both lawyers and paralegals can be subject to cost awards in various types of proceedings, depending on their role and the circumstances surrounding the case. Therefore, the accurate understanding is that costs can indeed be awarded against any representative, including paralegals and lawyers, further emphasizing the court's comprehensive jurisdiction to manage conduct related to legal representation.