Submissions and Legislative Updates

The B.C. government has implemented treaty commitments from the Tsawwassen First Nation Final Agreement, Maa-nulth First Nations Final Agreement and Tla’amin Nation Final Agreement to recognize Treaty First Nation laws in the B.C. Provincial Court.

Update: CBABC recommendations incorporated into new BCLI report on artificial intelligence and civil liability

Updated with responses from the Chiefs of all three B.C. courts.

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. 

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.  

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 2021, the Government formed a Special Committee to reform the Police Act. A public consultation was conducted and the final report of this Special Committee has now been published, along with recommendations for modernizing the legislation and policies around policing in BC.

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.