In response to the State of Public Health Emergency declared by the Government on November 24, 2020, the increase in active COVID-19 cases in the Province of Alberta, and the current and anticipated numbers of legal system participants, including Court staff, who may be unable to participate for COVID-19 related reasons, the Court of Queen’s Bench of Alberta is announcing the following modifications to its schedule for the week of November 30. Further announcements in respect of the subsequent weeks may follow.
1. Regional Centres (all points outside Calgary and Edmonton):
All matters set for the week of November 30, 2020 in the Regional Centres will proceed as scheduled. To the extent that matters can be conducted remotely, that is the default.
2. Calgary and Edmonton:
The following matters will proceed as scheduled:
- Jury Trials scheduled to commence November 30, 2020;
- Family Docket Court, including Early Intervention Case Conferences;
- Emergency Protection Order Reviews;
- Family Law Chambers;
- Civil Chambers;
- Masters Chambers and Bankruptcy;
- Bail Hearings;
- Commercial Duty;
- Criminal Trials;
- Family Trials;
- Continuation of Civil Trials;
- Child Welfare Appeals and Provincial Court Family Appeals;
- Family Special Chambers Applications;
- Urgent Civil Special Chambers Applications and Trials;
- Criminal Appearance Court/Queen’s Bench Appearance Court;
- Criminal Pre-Trial Conferences that do not require recording. Urgent Criminal PTCs which must be conducted on the record may proceed with the approval of either of Justice DeWit in Calgary or Justice Henderson in Edmonton;
- Any specially-scheduled Judicial Dispute Resolution that does not require recording.
The following matters will not proceed during the week of November 30, 2020 (if scheduled to be heard):
- All currently scheduled non-urgent Civil Special Chambers Applications and Trials (These matters will be rescheduled as soon as possible in the Spring Term);
- Judicial Reviews;
- Summary Conviction Appeals;
- Bail Estreatments;
- Provincial Court Civil Appeals;
- Masters Appeals;
- Adult Guardianship & Trusteeship Act List;
- Child Support List;
- IJO/Confirmation Hearings;
- Seized Matters, including matters in Case Management;
- Bar Admissions;
- Non-urgent Criminal Pre-Trial Conferences;
- Binding JDRs;
- Surrogate Early Intervention Case Conferences requiring a recording.
3. Suspension of Civil/Family/Commercial Trial Bookings
In order to allow for the rescheduling of cancelled matters, the booking of new civil, family and commercial trials and lengthy specials, unless deemed urgent by Chief Justice Moreau or Associate Chief Justice Nielsen will be suspended for the next three weeks. Once all cancelled matters have been accommodated in the Spring Term, booking will recommence.
4. Booking of Urgent Matters
Counsel and self-represented litigants may continue to book urgent matters using the processes which are in place through the Clerks’ Office. Urgent Family Law matters may be directed, in Edmonton, to Patricia Copeman at patricia.copeman@albertacourts.ca and in Calgary to Barbara Harris at barbara.harris@albertacourts.ca.