Submission to BC Supreme Court includes recommendations to enhance the provision and administration of Judicial Case Conferences

On January 12, CBABC delivered a letter to the Attorney General highlighting concerns about the lack of transparency surrounding the proposed legislation for a single regulator for lawyers, notaries and paralegals. 

The Lieutenant Governor recently issued Order in Council 628/2023 amending Section 5 of the Disbursements and Expert Evidence Regulation, BC Reg, 2010/2020.

CBABC delivered a submission to the Ministry of Attorney General with recommendations to improve the section 211 reporting process under the Family Law Act.

The Attorney General and Minister of Children and Family Development responded to a submission urging the BC government to fully implement the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child.

On October 26, 2023, the Money Judgment Enforcement Act received royal assent, streamlining the currently outdated and inefficient process in BC.

On October 3, 2023, the BC government amended the Family Law Act and the Provincial Court Family Rules impacting orders and agreements about companion animals.

The submission encourages the BC government to develop a plan to implement their obligations under the United Nations Convention of the Rights of the Child.

The provincial government recently tabled Bill 17, the Family Law Amendment Act, 2023, which reflects CBABC advocacy on property division and spousal support.

In September, the Court Services Committee of CBABC made a submission to reform court scheduling entitled Modernizing the Supreme Court of British Columbia’s Scheduling System for Civil Matters. The Chief Justice of the BC Supreme Court has considered this submission and provided a letter in response.

Guided by members’ concerns and recommendations, CBABC prepared a written submission to the Supreme Court of British Columbia and the Ministry of Attorney General with recommendations to improve efficiency of court scheduling and e-filing.

CBABC was invited to present before the Standing Committee on Finance and Government Services as part of a public consultation by the provincial government for the 2022 budget.

As the COVID-19 pandemic accelerated a digital transformation of BC’s court system, access to justice increased, but some people are being left behind. CBABC identifies those people, suggests some considerations to follow, and invites dialogue with the courts, Court Services, Justice Services and the Law Society of BC to ensure no one is left behind.

On July 9, 2021, CBABC delivered its final submissions to the Commission of Inquiry into Money Laundering in British Columbia. CBABC received joint standing with the Criminal Defense Advocacy Society to participate in the Commission in the fall of 2019. Our participation and submissions were not to overlap with those of the Law Society of BC.