Submissions and Legislative Updates

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.

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.

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.

Letter to Law Society of BC re: 2018 Law Society Annual General Meeting Resolution 3 for family law licensed paralegals and the Legal Professions Act amendments in the Attorney General Statutes Amendment Act, 2018, S.B.C. 2018, c. 49 (Bill 57).

Letter to Attorney General regarding the Legal Profession Act amendments in the proposed Attorney General Statutes Amendment Act, 2018 (Bill 57).

The Canadian Bar Association BC Branch (CBABC) Provincial Court (Family) Rules Working Group’s submission regarding the Provincial Court (Family) Rules