COVID-19’s Legacy of Red Tape

On top of human travesty and jarring social transformation, the COVID-19 pandemic has raised an absolute tidal wave of red tape that lawyers are expected to ingest.

February 2022

On top of human travesty and jarring social transformation, the COVID-19 pandemic has raised an absolute tidal wave of red tape that lawyers are expected to ingest. The BC Supreme Court released, revised, and rescinded so many COVID-19 announcements in less than 22 months that it requires a four-page index just to track them. The Court of Appeal’s notice to the public about its response to the COVID-19 pandemic was revised 14 times before it was rescinded — only to be replaced by a notice that has been revised three times further. And this is just the Courts. What about the laws, ministerial orders, and other instruments from the provincial and federal legislatures and executive offices?

Our dutiful librarians have assembled a page with links and tables listing the laws, emergency orders, and regulations that arose as a result of COVID-19. Visit bit.ly/3fkRCIv if you are curious to see the resource, or email CLBC’s librarians any time if you need specific support.