Attorney General and Minister of Justice Suzanne Anton has issued the following statement:

Nominations for the honorary designation of Queen’s Counsel (Q.C.) open Aug. 15 and will be accepted until Friday, Sept. 23, 2016. The title is bestowed annually by the Lieutenant Governor on the endorsement of Attorney General and Minister of Justice Suzanne Anton Q.C.

Attorney General and Minister of Justice Suzanne Anton has issued the following statement regarding Canada’s National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls:

The British Columbia government is appointing two new provincial court judges to ensure the judiciary has the resources it needs to continue to provide access to justice.

Effective Aug. 1, 2016, the B.C. government is reinstating hearing fees for civil cases before the B.C. Supreme Court. The Supreme Court Civil Rules have been amended to provide justices of the Supreme Court with the discretion to exempt parties from paying the fees, if the fees would cause an undue hardship.

The Government of Canada recognizes the importance of support services for victims of crime in helping to ensure that the justice system is fair, efficient and accessible to all Canadians.

Developing a trauma-informed justice system response to victims and witnesses of violent crime is one step closer to reality thanks to the support of the federal Department of Justice.

Leaders from B.C.’s justice and public safety sector, along with experts in the areas of mental health and addictions, joined for a two-day summit to discuss the challenges faced by those with mental health and/or substance use issues when they interact with the criminal justice system.