2024

Effective September 9, 2024 the Supreme Court Civil Rules regarding affidavits, which also impact the Small Claims Rules, were amended to allow for the acceptance of affidavits commissioned by video technology and to remove the requirement that remote commissioning only occur where it is not medically safe to attend physically before a commissioner.

Effective September 9, 2024, the Supreme Court Civil Rules and the Supreme Court Family Rules were amended pursuant to OIC No. 378/2024.

The Ministry of Attorney General’s five-year strategy seeks to create a more responsive, transparent and user-friendly court system for all participants.

CBA BC Branch is also involved in constitutional challenge of BC's new Legal Professions Act

Supreme Court declined to grant injunctive relief to suspend the transitional provisions of the act

This practice direction is to improve the clarity of publication bans made in criminal proceedings, and the accuracy of court records documenting them. It will also make information about the terms and the duration of bans more accessible to parties and other interested people while the proceedings are taking place in the Court, as well as later when there is a reason to consult the court record.

Purpose: To set out guidelines regarding the length, format, and content of Affidavits and Exhibits in family proceedings.

This practice direction applies to all court registries in the Province.

Purpose: The purpose of this practice direction is to set out the default methods of attendance for court appearances under the Provincial Court (Child, Family and Community Service Act) Rules, B.C. Reg. 533/95 (“CFCSA Rules”) and the and the Provincial Court (Snuw’uy’ulhtst tu Quw’utsun Mustimuhw u’ tu Shhw’a’luqwa’a’ i’ Smun’eem) [Laws of the Cowichan People for Families and Children] Rules (“Cowichan Rules”).