Amendments to the Civil Resolution Tribunal Act (CRTA) introduced today will improve access to justice by requiring parties who use the justice system to resolve their minor strata and small claims disputes to use the Civil Resolution Tribunal (CRT), Canada’s first-ever online tribunal.

If passed, the CRTA amendments will expand the CRT’s authority by making it the primary avenue for resolution of most strata disputes and many small claims matters. However, parties will retain the right to request that a court hear the matter. 

The technology that is being developed for the CRT is groundbreaking and will allow British Columbians to access the tribunal’s services 24 hours a day, seven days a week. This user-friendly website will significantly improve access to justice for people by giving them the ability to access the tribunal from a smartphone or computer.

The tribunal will focus on encouraging a collaborative, problem-solving approach to dispute resolution and will ensure disputes are resolved in a speedy and cost-effective manner. The CRT will be launched in phases, with the first phase - the Solutions Explorer - to begin later this year. It will offer British Columbians a self-serve toolkit, with guidance on how to prevent and resolve their disputes by offering information specific to those disputes.

Quotes:

Suzanne Anton, Attorney General and Minister of Justice -

“Access to the CRT and its early resolution processes will help to resolve disputes faster and with more lasting outcomes, while saving people time and money. The amendments proposed today will make the CRT British Columbian’s first point of entry when they have small claims or strata matters, providing people with the means to access justice when they need it - whether it be from a smartphone or their own home at any time of day.”

Shannon Salter, chair, Civil Resolution Tribunal -

“As Canada’s first online tribunal, the CRT will significantly increase access to justice for British Columbians by helping them to resolve strata property and small claims disputes fairly, quickly and affordably, from the comfort of their own home. The CRT will empower and support people to use a variety of dispute resolution methods, including negotiation, facilitation and if necessary, adjudication.”

Tony Gioventu, executive director, Condominium Home Owners Association -

“The amendments introduced today will ensure that all parties in a strata dispute participate in the dispute resolution process through the Civil Resolution Tribunal. The CRT’s collaborative, problem-solving approach to dispute resolution will give strata owners the tools they need to resolve their disputes quickly, affordably and conveniently.”

Sandy Wagner, president, Vancouver Island Strata Owners Association -

“The CRT will be of great benefit to the strata community by helping our members to resolve their disputes more quickly, saving them time and expense. With the CRT’s 24-hour-a-day accessibility, it will meet the lifestyle needs of our members and in the spirit of our strata communities, assist them to reach collaborative resolutions.”    

Learn more:

For more detailed information on the CRT, please visit: www.civilresolutionbc.ca and
www.ag.gov.bc.ca/legislation/civil-resolution-tribunal-act/index.htm  

Media Contacts:

Government Communications and Public Engagement
Ministry of Justice
250 208-0618