On May 7, 2012, Minister of Justice and Attorney General Shirley Bond announced plans for a new independent tribunal with jurisdiction to resolvecommon strata and small civil claims outside the courts.
If passed, theCivil Resolution Tribunal Act will create an independent tribunal offering 24/7 online dispute resolution tools to provide an alternative to traditional court processes. These resources could be employed by parties to resolve disputes by consent or, where necessary, by way of an independent tribunal hearing. It is anticipated that resolving a dispute through this process will save time and money for participants.
A tribunal of this nature may prove beneficial to small business owners looking to resolve small civil claims in a faster, more cost-effective manner. If passed, the new tribunal would be the first of its kind in Canada and is expected to be in place by 2013-14.
If you have any questions regarding the information in this article, please contact Lindsie Thomson, Partner.
