Neutral evaluation gives the parties another chance to settle the dispute and avoid the time and expense of arbitration or court. In neutral evaluation, an experienced evaluator will assess the issues in dispute and give a non-binding opinion about the likely outcome of the case if it goes to arbitration or to court.

Neutral evaluation is available privately or as part of the arbitration process at the Financial Services Commission of Ontario (FSCO).

The options are explained in Practice Note 5: Mediator Referral to Neutral Evaluation and Practice Note 6: Neutral Evaluation at the Financial Services Commission of Ontario.