The Government has responded to CBABC’s briefing note on section 203 of the Family Law Act, which recommends changes to reduce existing barriers in appointing counsel to assist children. The Deputy Attorney General indicated CBABC’s recommendations will be considered during their upcoming multi-phase project to review and modernize the Family Law Act. CBABC will maintain discussions with the ministry during the review by connecting them with lawyers who have direct experience with this provision in the Family Law Act.
BC is the only province or territory in Canada where the threshold for exercising the statutory power to appoint a children’s lawyer is a degree of conflict so severe that parties are unable to act in the best interest of the child. This threshold often prevents the appointment of lawyers to assist children in family law matters.
Read the original briefing note: Deputy Attorney General: Amendment to S. 203 of Family Law Act