Wednesday, March 30, 2022, 12:30 p.m.
Video Conference, Supreme Court of Canada
Present
- Chantal Carbonneau (Chair)
- Barbara Kincaid (Secretary)
- Renée Maria Tremblay
- Emily Moreau
- Corey Villeneuve
- François Lacasse
- Marie-France Major
- Marion Sandilands
- Isabelle Bouchard
- Margaret Truesdale
- Michael Sobkin
- Moira Dillon
- Gib van Ert
- Jean-Simon Schoenholz
- Nadia Effendi
- Anne Turley
- Gordon Greenwood
- D. Lynne Watt
1. Agenda
The agenda was approved.
2. Approval of the Minutes of the meeting of December 15, 2021
The minutes were approved.
3. COVID-19 update: Planning for hearings for spring and fall 2022
April and May Hearings
Appearance of counsel via Zoom continues to be the preferred method of the Court for the Spring hearings. Counsel for main parties have been given the option to appear before this Court in-person for the April hearing block. Counsel for interveners will continue to appear at hearings via videoconference, using Zoom.
Counsel appearing in person must undergo COVID screening, be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and must wear masks at all times in the Court building. The presiding judge will advise parties the morning of the hearing whether counsel are permitted to remove their mask when making their submissions.
Quebec City, September 14 & 15, 2022
The Court will be sitting in Quebec City on September 14 and 15, 2022. The cases to be heard will be announced in May via press release, and an Instagram page and microsite on the Court’s website will also be launched to cover the Court’s visit to Quebec City. It is hoped that the public will be permitted to attend the hearings in person. As access to justice is a priority of the Chief Justice, a number of outreach activities with the public and schools are planned.
Reopening of the Registry
The Court is hoping to reopen the Registry to the public on a limited basis (e.g., by appointment) in May, but it remains to be determined. Vaccination and screening requirements will be in place.
Practices and Measures Going Forward
The practice of asking parties to file their condensed books 48 hours in advance of the hearing has been positive for the Court and will remain in place permanently. It remains to be seen whether a change to the rules is required.
Filing by email will also continue, but the Court nevertheless requires a paper copy of all files. For files that have already been closed, there is no need to file a paper copy.
Development of the E-Filing portal is progressing.
The Court welcomes feedback from counsel with respect to the practices and measures adopted during the pandemic that may or may not be maintained going forward; this will be discussed at the October 2022 COAPP meeting.
4. Varia
François Lacasse advised that the various prosecution services have taken to serving their appeal factums on all other heads of prosecution in order to allow for a full four weeks in which to decide whether to apply for leave to intervene.
5. Next Meeting
The next meeting will be held on Wednesday, June 8, 2022 at 10:00 a.m. via Zoom.