Rules: Management of Litigation, Consultation Memorandum 12.5

This memorandum addresses issues concerning the management of litigation in Alberta, including whether changes in the litigation system are necessary; time standards for completion of actions; and methods to increase the efficiency and accessibility of the justice system. The Committee recommends that changes to the operation of the litigation system in Alberta be considered in order to respond to problems of delay and excessive cost, with a view to creating a “made in Alberta” solution […]

March 4, 2003

Rules: Parties, Consultation 12.4

This memorandum addresses issues concerning parties whose legal ability to conduct litigation can be problematic, including deceased persons without a personal representative, unincorporated entities, interveners, and persons under disability. The Committee found that for a deceased person without a personal representative, Rule 50 has ongoing usefulness, but proposes that further clarification be made to the general notice provision of Rule 384(1). Partnerships, sole proprietorships operating under a trade name, and other unincorporated associations were examined […]

Rules: Expert Evidence and “Independent” Medical Examinations, Consultation Memorandum 12.3

In matters calling for special or expert knowledge, the court may not have sufficient knowledge to draw proper inferences from the evidence such that it may adjudicate on the matters in issue. Regarding independent medical examinations, the Committee was of the view that the procedures under Rule 217 function quite well and should be retained subject to certain issues and proposals. The specific issues addressed by the Committee regarding expert evidence were the timelines for […]

February 4, 2003

Rules: Document Discovery and Examination for Discovery, Consultation Memorandum 12.2

Regarding the timeline for filing and serving an affidavit of records and the penalties for failing to comply with the rules in this regard, the Committee proposes that there be a specific onus on the party who failed to file the affidavit of records within the prescribed time to show why they should not incur a prescribed penalty. Regarding the appropriate scope of discovery of records the Committee proposes to keep the present test for […]

October 4, 2002

Rules: Commencement of Proceedings in Queen’s Bench, Consultation Memorandum 12.1

There are two basic types of court proceedings in the Court of Queen’s Bench: actions and applications. The General Rewrite Committee is of the view that the distinction between actions and applications should be retained. It favours having two ways to commence proceedings: one for actions and one for applications. It proposes to discard the archaic petition, and instead provide that in circumstances previously calling for the use of a petition, applications should be commenced […]

Standardizing Limitation Periods for Actions on Insurance Contracts, Consultation Memorandum 10

When the new Limitations Act came into force on March 1, 1999, a number of changes were made to the limitation law in Alberta. The limitation periods for actions on insurance contracts is in a state of confusion, several of the limitation periods that the Insurance Act prescribes are inconsistent with the general limitation periods in the Limitations Act. The scope of this project addresses issues which relate to rationalizing limitation periods for actions against insurers. The issues addressed and […]

December 4, 2001

Class Actions, Consultation Memorandum 9

This report makes recommendations to reform the existing procedure for handling a class action and proposes that Alberta enact a modern class actions statute based on the Canadian model that has been enacted in Quebec, Ontario, and British Columbia. Primary recommendations would add a procedure to the existing procedural framework for handling litigation involving multiple plaintiffs having the same or similar claims against the same defendant. Ancillary recommendations would add a procedure for handling litigation […]

December 4, 2000

Class Actions, Final Report 85

This report makes recommendations to reform the existing procedure for handling a class action and proposes that Alberta enact a modern class actions statute based on the Canadian model that has been enacted in Quebec, Ontario, and British Columbia. Primary recommendations would add a procedure to the existing procedural framework for handling litigation involving multiple plaintiffs having the same or similar claims against the same defendant. Ancillary recommendations would add a procedure for handling litigation […]

December 1, 2000

Powers and Procedures for Administrative Tribunals in Alberta, Final Report 79

Existing legislation that governs the procedures of adjudicative tribunals in Alberta – the Alberta Administrative Procedures Act – is seriously deficient. It has not kept up to date with new case law, nor does it even apply to a majority of Alberta’s adjudicative tribunals. The ALRI suggests replacing this legislation with the Administrative Powers and Procedures Act. It would apply to all tribunals and because of the diverse range of tribunal functions and resources, include “opt-in” legislation. This […]

December 29, 1999

Powers & Procedures for Administrative Agencies: MODEL CODE, Consultation Memorandum 6

The final product that arises from this consultation will be a comprehensive Model Code of Powers and Procedures, and an accompanying Annotation that sets out important case law that supplements or clarifies the rules. The Code will clarify the powers that already exist under the common law, and provide for additional powers necessary to the efficient and effective functioning of agencies. The code will not be a rigid set of rules that apply to every […]

April 1, 1999