Newsletter of the Canadian Bar Association (BC Branch) April 1997 Vol. 9 • No. 2
-INSIDE President's Message ...... 2 Section Talk .................... 3 Chief Judge Robert Metzger speaks on reform in Provincial Court ........ 7 Help for Law Courts Education Society ........ I I Registry Questions & Answers ......................... 12 Legal Aid at the Crossroads ................... 14 Peace-Building in latin America ......................... 16 Practice Talk ................. 17 BarTalk Editorial Board created ........................... 23 New organization to continue work of Law Reform Commission ... 24 Legislative Update ........ 25 No Fault protest at the Art Gallery .. .............. .. .......... 28
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Opposition to No Fault insurance loud and clear at Town Hall meetings Debate now moves into the political arena
H
undreds of people showed up to the provincial government, held hearings beexpress opposition to any form of No hind closed doors. A report by the commission, Fault insurance atTownHallmeetings recommending either a modified or full No Fault sponsored by the Bar across the prov- system, was released by Finance Minister ince in recent weeks. Andrew Petter in early March. At the time, he "At all the meetings we held, not one single promised todeliver legislation to reform auto person stood up to speak in favour of No Fault insurance within a few weeks. insurance," said Greg Steele, one of the Branch's Emily Reid, Q.C., President ofthe B.C. Branch, spokespeople at the meetings. "We may have said the Town Hall meetings show British won the public's support on this issue and we Columbians are concerned over the proposals to can only hope the government will eventually change the province's existing auto insurance listen." system and replace it with some type of No Fault The debate on automobile insurance has insurance. She said the reaction of the hundreds moved into the polof British Columbians itical arena with a who have turned out " ... the reaction of the hundreds of British pledge by the Liberal for the meetings Columbians who have turned out for the Opposition of an allindicates widespread meetings indicates widespread support of out fight should the support of our present our present system ." provincial governsystem. ment bring in No The CBA's position Fault legislation. is that changing the existing auto insurance "We will be loud and clear in speaking out system will not result in long-term control of against No Fault," promised Liberal insurance costs and that the key to such controls spokesperson Geoff Plant, the MLA for lies in changing driver behaviour through Richmond-Steveston. sweeping-and tough-traffic safety initiatives. Plant's comment came as he and fellow Liberal The CBA, in a report released last fall, also MLAs Linda Reid, (Richmond-East) and Doug recommended the use of alternate dispute Symons, (Richmond-Centre) attended a resolution measures to reduce court costs. Richmond Town Hall meeting on No Fault The CBA has also pointed out that sponsored by the B.C. Branch of the Canadian implementation of No Fault means accident Bar Association. victims will lose their right to take court action The Richmond event was the latest in a series while innocent victims of traffic crashes will of public meetings sponsored by the CBA across receive less compensation in order that reckless the province in locations like Kamloops, Kelowna, drivers who speed and drive while drunk will Nanaimo, Prince George and Victoria. get increased benefits. + The CBA began the Town Hall sessions after the Allen Commission, a review team set up by