An Update from the Ad Hoc Family Law Steering Committee

The Ad Hoc Family Law Steering Committee continues their pursuit to improve access to justice by seeking a return to virtual hearings as the presumptive method in family court. The panel recently met with the Attorney General, Doug Downey, to discuss the benefits of virtual hearings and the concerns with reverting to pre-pandemic practices.
The panel admired the innovative and technological improvements that the Attorney General implemented to overcome obstacles the pandemic caused and highlighted the importance of maintaining the momentum forward to continue to improve the family court system. The Attorney General was receptive to the panel’s concerns and hopefully change is coming.

The petition has received over 1,400 signatures from family lawyers across the province in support of the return to virtual hearings as the presumptive method in family court. Thank you to all signatories for your support thus far, the committee is working on next steps and will provide additional updates as they progress. The panel invites fellow family law professionals to share the petition and updates with colleagues, and encourage any who have not yet signed to participate in the petition