JANUARY - PRESENT 2022 (COVID-19 ANNOUNCEMENTS)

April 5, 2022
CHANGES TO PANDEMIC-RELATED MEASURES IN COURTHOUSES AND COURTROOMS

Effective April 11, 2022, the Chief Justice of British Columbia has directed the following changes to pandemic-related measures in courthouses and courtrooms:

• Sheriffs will no longer conduct a health screening for people entering a courthouse.
• In the public areas of the courthouse, wearing face masks will be a matter of personal choice.
• In a courtroom, wearing (or not) of face masks is subject to the direction of the presiding judge or registrar. A supply of face masks will be made available in the courthouses and courtrooms.
• Hand sanitizer will be available in the courtroom and plexiglass barriers remain in place.
• Capacity limits in courthouses and courtrooms are lifted.
• Parties, counsel, and other courtroom participants may not bring their own water into the courtroom. Water will be supplied.
• Physical distancing requirements will be removed.

The Notice Regarding Modified Court of Appeal Procedures and Access to Court Proceedings during the COVID-19 Pandemic incorporates this direction and replaces the Notice Regarding Modified Court of Appeal Procedures and Access to Court Proceedings during the COVID-19 Pandemic dated February 9, 2022.

April 1, 2022
LIFTING OF COURTHOUSE PANDEMIC MEASURES

Effective April 11, 2022, the Court of Appeal will be lifting many of the measures that were put in place to control the spread of COVID-19 at courthouses.

Further details will be posted next week.

March 10, 2022
FACE MASKS REQUIRED IN COURTHOUSES AND COURTROOMS

Until further notice, all people attending courthouses in British Columbia are required to wear a face mask, including in entrances, lobbies, waiting areas, registries, hallways, stairways, restrooms and elevators. In addition, people are required to wear a face mask inside courtrooms unless directed otherwise by the presiding judge, justice, master or registrar.

A face mask must be worn in a manner that covers your nose and mouth.

If you do not have a face mask, Sheriffs will provide one when you enter the courthouse.

February 9, 2022
IN-PERSON OR HYBRID REMOTE/IN-PERSON HEARINGS

Effective February 14, 2022, the Chief Justice of British Columbia has directed that all appeal hearings and chambers proceedings will take place in person in the courtroom, unless individual parties apply or elect to appear remotely. As was the case prior to December 20, 2021, parties will need to request permission to appear remotely for appeals and may elect to appear remotely for chambers. All remote appearances will be on the Zoom platform.

The Notice Regarding Court of Appeal Procedures and Access to Court Proceedings during the COVID-19 Pandemic and the Notice to the Public Regarding Appearing by Video have been updated to incorporate this direction. Counsel and litigants who wish to appear by video must complete and submit the Request to Appear Remotely Form at least ten (10) business days before the appeal hearing. For chambers hearings counsel or litigants who wish to appear by video must submit the Request to Appear Remotely together with the notice of motion, or, in the case of a responding party, together with any response to the application, at least two (2) business days before the chambers proceeding takes place.