B.C. provincial court to resume limited in-person proceedings beginning June 8

By Ian Burns

Law360 Canada (May 27, 2020, 12:41 PM EDT) -- The B.C. provincial court announced that it is beginning its process to return to normal operations.

According to a press release, as of June 8, the court will be resuming in-person proceedings to hear priority matters in two courtrooms in each of the following six locations: Surrey, 222 Main St. in Vancouver, Robson Square in Vancouver, Victoria, Prince George and Kelowna. As of June 15, the provincial court will be opening one courtroom for in-person appearances in each of the locations listed in Appendix A of this announcement.

In-person proceedings will only be available for priority matters that cannot otherwise be accommodated remotely. For most cases, the processes set out in the previous notice to the profession, including the remote proceedings described, will continue. Information about further stages of courtroom reopenings will be provided on the court’s website.

In addition the notice adds that parties not appearing in person before the Supreme Court as a result of measures put in place during the public health emergency are required to file their affidavits of service or delivery as of May 26. Affidavits may be e-filed through court services online. If the hearing date is imminent, the party e-filing should request filing on an urgent basis. More information can be found here.