COVID-19 and the courts: Dec. 14 update

Courts across Canada have been taking measures to control the spread of the new coronavirus, COVID-19. Below is a roundup of actions courts are taking across the country.

British Columbia

Provincial Court of British Columbia

Updated NP 19: Court Operations During COVID-19
Effective Dec. 7, family remand lists, family case conferences and family management conferences in Victoria and Surrey are being heard via audio conference or video conference on the dates scheduled.

Updated FAM 08: Change or Suspend Child or Spousal Support due to COVID-19
The practice direction has been revised as of Dec. 7 to add information about early resolution and the case management model in Surrey.

Alberta

Provincial Court of Alberta

Provincial Court of Alberta Response to Recent COVID-19 Restrictions
The notice sets out the details for the court’s operations from Dec. 14 until Jan. 29, 2021, following the provincial government’s declaration of a state of public health emergency on Nov. 24. and the announcement of new restrictions on Dec. 8.

Camrose and Killam Provincial Courts to Re-open
The Camrose and Killam Provincial Courts have resumed normal business operations, counter services and scheduled court matters, effective Dec. 7.

Court of Queen’s Bench of Alberta

COVID-19: Changes to the Court Schedule for the Week of December 7, 2020
The court announced the modifications to its schedule for the week of Dec. 7 in response to Alberta’s recent declaration of a state of public health emergency.

Saskatchewan

Provincial Court of Saskatchewan

Update for Court Users and the Public
The court will be suspending most trials, preliminary inquiries and in-person hearings from Dec. 14 until Jan. 15, 2021. Parties may apply to have their matters move forward, but the court should be satisfied that the trial may be conducted in accordance with the Chief Medical Health Officer’s guidelines. The court urges lawyers and accused individuals to appear by phone. Circuit point dockets will move forward via phone from the permanent court location.

Manitoba

Provincial Court of Manitoba

Notice - Rescheduling of Circuit Court Sittings due to COVID-10
The court has made changes to circuit court sitting dates with respect to matters scheduled between Dec. 14 to 31. Circuit court sittings beyond Dec. 31 remain adjourned as per the court’s notice dated Nov. 30.

Notice - Rescheduling of Adult and Youth out of Custody Matters due to COVID-19 (Regional Centres)
The court said that matters adjourned, in accordance with previous notices, to dates after Jan. 4, 2021, are expected to move forward on those January dates. The notice deals with matters presently scheduled for Dec. 14 to 31, which have been adjourned to dates in January and February 2021.

Ontario

Ontario Court of Justice

Enhancements to the Daily Court Lists Website – December 7, 2020
Effective Dec. 7, the Daily Court Lists website has been enhanced. The website will now publish two days of court lists, with case information given for the current day and for the next day, and will update this information every day at 8 a.m. The website will also update the published case information three additional times during the day.