Several recent amendments to Alberta legislation are geared towards efficiency, freeing up court time, and, ultimately, access to justice.
Alberta Gains a Second Associate Chief Justice
Effective March 30, 2015 the Court of Queen’s Bench Act has been amended by the Statutes Amendment Act, 2015 (Bill 16) to allow for a second Associate Chief Justice in Alberta. According to the Hansard record of comments made by the Hon. Ian Donovan, the change is meant to address two concerns:
- Over the past two decades, the Court of Queen’s Bench has not increased in size to match Alberta’s rapidly growing population, and, of course, the increased court case volumes.
- Both Calgary and Edmonton need a dedicated ACJ to oversee the operational needs in each city. This will give the Chief Justice the capacity to provide more strategic direction to the court as a whole.
Now that a new position has been legislatively created, according to Hansard, the Alberta government and the Court of Queen’s Bench will seek an appointment of the second ACJ by the federal government.
Expanding the Role of the Master in Chambers
The Statutes Amendment Act, 2015 also gives the Chief Justice the authority to issue directives on the jurisdiction of the province’s Masters in Chambers by amending s 9 of the Court of Queen’s Bench Act (which deals with the Masters’ jurisdiction). The idea is to allow for a mechanism to control and augment the types of applications litigants can bring before a Master, to free up court time before the Justices of the Court.
Here come electronic signatures in the Land Titles Office
The Statutes Amendment Act, 2015 also introduced changes to how things will be done at the Land Titles Office, with a view to increased efficiency. Eventually, registered subscribers (frequent users such as lawyers and land surveyors) will be able to electronically submit certain documents to the land titles registry, using a unique digital signature.
Karen McDougall – LESA Counsel
