Today’s roundup for courthouses across Canada
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.
Provincial Court of Alberta extends pandemic precautions
The court announced on Jan. 27 that it intends to keep certain measures, such as adjourning low-complexity out-of-custody criminal trials except for domestic violence cases, closing in-person traffic services and increasing reliance on remote appearances, in place until at least Feb. 26.
Court of Queen’s Bench of Alberta
Extension of the cap on email filing fees to June 30, 2021
The court’s administration extended the cap on email filing fees until June 30. People filing documents via email should pay $1 per page, capped to a maximum amount of $20, in addition to regular filing fees.
Notice - COVID-19 precautions - Virtual Assignment Court
The court will not allow counsel to attend Assignment Court in person, except if paged to do so by the presiding judge, starting Feb. 1. Both counsel for each matter should reach out to the court via email to inform the judge and the court clerk whether the matter will move forward to trial or preliminary hearing, or whether they plan to resolve the matter another way.
Notice - COVID-19 precautions - Virtual Docket Appearances
The court, which is still closed to the general public and for in-person attendances on all docket appearances, is conducting virtual dockets with counsel to address matters on the docket. Accused individuals do not need to appear.
Notice - Resumption of limited out of custody dispositions virtually
The court continues to incrementally reopen courts by recommencing the hearing of certain out-of-custody dispositions, which last a half day or less in the major court centres of Winnipeg, Portage la Prairie, Brandon, Dauphin, The Pas and Thompson. Virtual appearances will be through teleconference or video conference where available. The feasibility of video conference appearances will depend on court location, availability of an appropriate courtroom and availability of the needed technology.
Court of Queen’s Bench of Manitoba
Notice - (General Division) Adjustment to Current Scheduling Protocols February 1, 2021 until further notice
The previously announced scheduling protocols relating to judge-alone criminal trials, civil trials and other judicial services in the General Division will continue to apply from Feb. 1 until further notice.
Notice - (Family Division) Adjustment to Current Scheduling Protocols February 1 - 26, 2021
The recently announced adjustments to the court’s scheduling practices for the Family Division relating to family and child protection trials and other judicial services will continue to apply from Feb. 1 to 26.
Latest Announcements About Provincial Offences Act Proceedings in the OCJ
The court has extended the timelines relating to Provincial Offences Act appeals until Apr. 12. Provincial Offences Act appeals to a judge of the court, which are scheduled from Mar. 16 until Apr. 9, will be adjourned.
Practice Direction Concerning Public and Media Remote Observation of Oral Hearings During the COVID-19 Pandemic
This practice direction applies to oral hearings in all appeals and motions, including motions heard by a single judge or by a panel of three judges. The document touches upon matters such as bans on recording, access of observers and the newly imposed counsel slip and hearing information form.
Court of Appeal of New Brunswick
COVID-19 Updated and Consolidated Directive
The directive updated Jan. 27 covers measures relating to entry into the Justice Building, the use of masks or face coverings, document filings and service, affidavits, media access and the hearing of motions and appeals.
Provincial Court of Nova Scotia and Youth Justice Court
Faxing new criminal informations in Halifax and Dartmouth
The court announced the launch of a pilot project that allows law enforcement agencies to securely submit via fax informations to the Halifax and Dartmouth Provincial Courts, beginning Feb. 1 and ending July 31. These agencies no longer need to courier copies of the faxed documents to the courthouses.
New process for scheduling insolvency matters in Halifax
The court has introduced a new scheduling process, applicable to insolvency matters in Halifax, that aims to hear matters as efficiently as possible, considering the expected increase in bankruptcy and insolvency proceedings relating to the economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. Counsel or parties filing a request for an urgent insolvency hearing should provide the court with details on the matter, the reason for urgency, the expected length of time needed to hear the matter and, where possible, mutually convenient dates.
