An estimated 40,000 British Columbians who are fighting small claims or strata disputes each year will soon be able to use their laptops or handheld devices to access a government system that aims to resolve legal matters quickly and cheaply.
Attorney-General Suzanne Anton said the government is set to introduce Canada’s first mandatory online tribunal system to settle minor disputes involving small claims court and strata councils without setting foot in local courthouses.
She said “We’re actually the first in the world to be doing this. You can start your claim at midnight from your desktop at home.
The online tribunal will involve a three-stage process, starting with attempts by both sides to resolve the issue on their own, progressing to mediation and concluding with a tribunal member with powers to decide the matter.”
PS: Interested to learn more about online mediation? Sign up for Introduction to Online Mediation, a 1-hour Free webinar for members of ACR Hawaii and the Hawaii State Bar Association ADR Section. It will be held on April 8 (from Noon to 1:00pm), and will be presented by Giuseppe Leone, founder of Virtual Mediation Lab, an online mediation project sponsored by ACR Hawaii.
