What can we learn from the new Civil Resolution Tribunal? Quite a lot, says Roger Smith
With the government gearing up to introduce online courts, it’s wellworth taking a look across the Atlantic.
On 1 June 2017, Canada’s first online tribunal, the Civil Resolution Tribunal (CRT), began accepting small claims for $5,000 or less in British Columbia (BC). It has already been accepting “strata property” disputes for the past 11 months.
CRT strengths
Regardless of how well the CRT works, the BC courts have certainly succeeded in being transparent. They have posted a blog announcing progress to the world. They have appointed a judge, Shannon Salter, as its head, and she has cultivated a high public profile. The CRT’s website publishes important decisions (three are currently available), which appear to show an online methodology not that far from the traditional. Costs seem reasonable. The fee to issue a case worth less than $3,000 is about £35 if you do it online with another £23 for a hearing. It is too soon
