Letter to the Editor

July 10, 2009

The new British Columbia Supreme Court Civil Rules reflect a number of critical recommendations proposed by the legal profession and others. As a key contributor to the revisions, CBABC was impressed with the openness to change that we experienced from the Justice Review Task Force, Chief Justice Donald Brenner, Deputy Attorney General Alan Seckel, QC, former Attorneys General Wally Oppal, QC and Geoff Plant, QC and current Attorney General Michael de Jong, QC. The unsung heroes in this process should also be thanked: the Supreme Court Rules Revision Committee did a tireless job of consolidating an enormous amount of Bar input into the new Rules, and we congratulate them for that admirable work.

From our very first meeting with Attorney General de Jong, it was clear that he has enormous respect for the work of all those who have contributed to the development of the new Rules introduced last week. He acknowledged the years of work that preceded the announcement by sharing the stage with two former Attorneys General, the Chief Justice and the Chair of the JRTF.

While the implementation of the Rules is a year away and they are as yet untested, it is important for all of us to thank all those who have devoted so much time and energy endeavouring to improve our system of justice.

Your truly,

Miriam Maisonville
President, Canadian Bar Association BC Branch, 2008/2009

A-G goes his own way on civil-court changes, and justice wins
Vancouver Sun
Friday, Jul 10, 2009
Page: A13
Section: Issues & Ideas
Byline: Robert Holmes
Source: Special to the Sun

[posted July 14, 2009]