The Creation of Wills, Report for Discussion 20

This report makes a number of recommendations to reform the Wills Act. It recommends that Alberta courts be given the power to validate a will or an alteration, revocation or revival of a will even if it does not comply with the formalities prescribed by the Wills Act. It also recommends that the age of testamentary capacity remain the same as the age of majority (18 years) so that a minor cannot make a valid will. People […]

September 2, 2007

Rules: Civil Appeals, Consultation Memorandum 12.21

This memorandum addresses issues relating to civil appeals. It outlines a set of working principles that guide the policy decisions behind several proposals. It reviews the many sources of procedural provisions that govern appeals. It identifies factors that contribute to delay in the early stages of an appeal and makes proposals for reducing this delay, simplifying procedure, and reducing the need for court intervention to ensure the timely progress of an appeal. It addresses the […]

April 4, 2007

Rules: Criminal Jury Trials: Challenge for Cause Procedures, Consultation Memorandum 12.20

This memorandum addresses procedures in challenges for cause in criminal jury trials in the Court of Queen’s Bench of Alberta. It provides background of the process to jury selection in criminal cases. Accuseds have both statutory and constitutional rights to jury trials. Both the Crown and the accused are entitled to trials before fair and impartial jury members. The Criminal Code has established a number of procedures, including challenges for cause on the grounds that […]

Rules: Charter Applications in Criminal Cases, Consultation Memorandum 12.19

This memorandum addresses procedures for Charter applications in criminal cases tried in the Court of Queen’s Bench of Alberta. The Committee addressed some background issues bearing on the development of Rules of Court for Charter application procedures, including the need for Rules to follow established legal principles, to provide for “fair notice” of applications, and to preserve judicial discretion. Charter applications outside of the Court of Queen’s Bench of Alberta are also reviewed. The current state of Charter application regulation in the Court […]

June 4, 2006

Rules: Self-Represented Litigants, Consultation Memorandum 12.18

This memorandum raises questions about the operation of The Rules in cases involving self-represented litigants. The Committee’s position is that the same procedural requirements should apply to all persons who turn to the civil justice system for the resolution of legal issued. Self-represented litigants must understand that they are responsible for performing the tasks and carrying out the functions ordinarily required of professionally trained lawyers. Self-represented litigants will benefit from some of the Rules changes […]

March 4, 2005

Rules: Costs and Sanctions, Consultation Memorandum 12.17

This memorandum seeks comments on a large number of issues arising in connection with “party and party costs” — which are the amounts that one party to litigation must pay to the other party for expenses incurred by the latter in the course of the litigation. It explores the principles on which costs should be awarded and how the amounts awarded should be determined, as well as the associated topics of security for costs, fees […]

February 4, 2005

Rules: Miscellaneous Issues, Consultation Memorandum 12.14

This memorandum is a mixed bag of topics. It consolidates the following areas of The Rules: time, time for service of the statement of claim, delay in prosecution, discontinuance and noncompliance, and irregularities. The Rules contain over 30 different time periods, ranging in duration from 24 hours to 10 years. Most of these time periods are under 30 days and many are roughly equivalent. It is proposed to replace these 30-some time periods with a […]

November 4, 2004

Rules: Non-disclosure Order Application Procedures in Criminal Cases, Consultation Memorandum 12.15

This memorandum addresses application procedures for “non-disclosure orders” in the Court of Queen’s Bench and the Court of Appeal – including publication ban orders, certain sealing orders, and in camera orders made under discretionary common law or statutory authority. It describes the authority to make Rules of Court for criminal litigation, and the nature of federal involvement in establishing criminal Rules of Court. It also discusses the general substantive and procedural doctrine that must be […]

Rules: Trial and Evidence Rules, Parts 25 and 26, Consultation Memorandum 12.16

This memorandum deals with the Trial and Trial Evidence Rules, which are currently found in Part 25 (Rules 245-260), which deal exclusively with Trial Rules and Part 26 (Rules 261-265 and 292-296.1), which deal with Evidence both in and out of Court. The Rules in issue fall into one of three broad categories dealing with either procedural, evidential or substantive matters. The committee felt that the substantive Rules were useful, but that several of them […]

Enduring Powers of Attorney: Areas for Reform, Consultation Paper

Western Canada Law Reform Agencies (WCLRA) consists of the British Columbia Law Institute, the Alberta Law Reform Institute, the Law Reform Commission of Saskatchewan and the Manitoba Law Reform Commission. In its first report, WCLRA recommends uniformity of certain key provisions in each western province’s statute governing enduring powers of attorney (EPAs). Apart from these proposed uniform provisions, it is intended that each province’s statute will remain unique. The areas in which WCLRA proposes uniformity […]

August 10, 2004