Unified family court
bill feedback sought
By Jennifer Peterson
The Government of Alberta has introduced new legislation to provide the legal framework for a unified family court in the province. The new court would have jurisdiction over all family law and youth matters, improve access to the justice system and provide a more positive experience for Albertans involved in family law.
Bill 56, the Alberta Court of Justice Act, was introduced during the fall 2003 sitting of the Legislature for consultation purposes to give stakeholders a chance to review and consider the proposed court model. The bill is scheduled to be reintroduced in the spring and amendments reflecting input from the consultation process may be introduced at that time. The intent of the court and the enabling legislation is to create a child-centred family justice system that minimizes the negative impact of separation and divorce on children.
The proposed model for a unified family court would include a range of programs and services, such as one-stop information centres, education services for parents, alternative dispute resolution, and post-resolution programs. The service delivery model is intended to expand existing services to address family problems in a holistic manner, provide more consistency between court locations and greater access to services in remote areas. It will also assist people in resolving their disputes as amicably as possible while helping to minimize the emotional stress to individuals.
The legislation is an opportunity for Alberta to move forward with a court model that will ultimately enhance and simplify services to persons accessing the family law system. It will also bring Alberta in line with other provinces across Canada that already have unified family courts.
For more information, visit the Alberta Justice web site www.justice.gov.ab.ca.
