Keep your practice current
by Jim Vilvang, QC

The Proposed New Rules for Civil Procedure of the British Columbia Supreme Court have now been released by the Civil Rules Drafting Group of the British Columbia Justice Review Task Force (“JRTF”). The Task Force was formed in 2002 with the goal of making the justice system more responsive, accessible, and cost effective. In 2004, the JRTF established the Civil Justice Reform Working Group (“CJRWG”). Jim Vilvang, QC was the CBABC’s representative on the CJRWG. In 2006, JRTF released a report, Effective and Affordable Civil Justice, containing recommendations including changes to the Supreme Court Rules to better ensure that cases could be dealt with justly, and pursuant to the principles of proportionality.

After receiving input from many groups, including the Civil Justice Report Special Committee, the Civil Rules Drafting Group went to work. The results of their efforts, the Proposed New Rules of Civil Procedure, are posted on the JRTF website: www.bcjusticereviewforum.ca/civilrules. The JRTF invites comments from everyone. The CBABC is currently reviewing the draft and plans to make submissions.

The deadline for comment is October 31, 2007.

It is intended that the new rules will be implemented by early 2010. If implemented, these rules will have a profound effect on the conduct of civil litigation in B.C. for many years in the future. This is your opportunity to be heard.

Jim Vilvang, QC, Civil Justice Reform Working Group member representing CBABC

This article was published in the October 2007 issue of BarTalk. © 2007 The Canadian Bar Association. All rights reserved.