Canadian Courts

This chart describes the structure and hierarchy of the Canadian court system.

The highest court is the Supreme Court of Canada. It hears appeals from the Court Martial Appeal Court of Canada, the Provincial or Territorial Courts of Appeal, and the Federal Court of Appeal decisions.

The Court Martial Appeal Court of Canada hears appeals from the Military Courts decisions. The Provincial or Territorial Courts of Appeal hear appeals from the Provincial or Territorial Superior Courts decisions.

The Provincial or Territorial Superior Courts hear appeals from either the Provincial or Territorial Courts decisions and conduct judicial reviews of the provincial and territorial Administrative Tribunals decisions.

The Federal Court of Appeal hears, inter alia, statutory appeals, appeals from the Federal Court and the Tax Court of Canada decisions. It also conducts judicial reviews of the decisions made by certain federal Administrative Tribunals.

The Federal Court hears, inter alia, claims, statutory appeals, applications and conducts judicial reviews of the decisions made by Federal Administrative Tribunals.