Submissions and Legislative Updates

CBABC has delivered a submission to the Ministry of Citizens’ Services to endorse the Creating Safety in BC Courts Report by Rise Women’s Legal Centre.

On June 23, CBABC delivered a submission to the Ministry of Attorney General recommending a more intentional approach to the design of virtual courtrooms.  

The provincial government has passed Bill 13, the Pay Transparency Act, which aims to address and eliminate pay inequity amongst employees.

CBABC has delivered a submission to the Supreme Court of British Columbia requesting a return to virtual Chambers hearings for short matters in civil and family law proceedings with the ability to obtain in-person appearances where circumstances warrant.

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.

The Ministry of Justice has released the BC Liquor Policy Review Final Report with recommendations.