4th Session, 42nd Legislature

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Bill 8

THE COURT OF APPEAL AMENDMENT AND PROVINCIAL COURT AMENDMENT ACT

(Assented to                                         )

HER MAJESTY, by and with the advice and consent of the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba, enacts as follows:

PART 1

THE COURT OF APPEAL ACT

C.C.S.M. c. C240 amended

1

The Court of Appeal Act is amended by this Part.

2

The following is added after clause 33(c):

(c.1) respecting settlement conferences under section 37.1;

3

The following is added after section 37:

Settlement conference

37.1(1)

At the request of all parties to an appeal, the Chief Justice of Manitoba may appoint a judge to meet with the parties and attempt to settle all or some of the issues on appeal before the hearing of the appeal.

Judge not compellable

37.1(2

) A judge presiding over a settlement conference must not be compelled to give evidence in any action or proceeding relating to the settlement conference.

Immunity

37.1(3)

No action or proceeding may be brought against a judge in relation to their actions at a settlement conference.

PART 2

THE PROVINCIAL COURT ACT

C.C.S.M. c. C275 amended

4

The Provincial Court Act is amended by this Part.

5

Subsection 3(2) is amended by striking out "and" at the end of clause (b), adding "and" at the end of clause (c) and adding the following after clause (c):

(d) undertakes to participate in continuing education on matters related to sexual assault law and social context, which includes systemic racism and systemic discrimination, including by attending seminars that may be established under section 8.1.1, unless the person has already completed training approved by the Chief Judge on those matters.

6

Section 3.1 is replaced with the following:

Appointment from list of candidates

3.1

An appointment under subsection 3(1) must be made from the list of candidates provided by the judicial appointment committee under section 3.6.

7(1)

Subsection 3.3(2) is amended

(a) in clause (a), by striking out everything after "Chief Judge"; and

(b) in clause (b), by striking out "three persons" and substituting "four persons".

7(2)

The following is added after subsection 3.3(4):

Chair

3.3(5)

The members of the committee must select one of the members who is not a judge as chair of the committee.

8

The following is added after subsection 3.4(5):

Evaluation of candidates

3.4(6)

The committee must evaluate each candidate as

(a) recommended for appointment; or

(b) not recommended for appointment.

9

Sections 3.5 and 3.6 are replaced with the following:

List of candidates

3.5(1)

The judicial appointment committee must prepare an ongoing list of all persons who have applied for appointment as a judge and who meet the qualifications for appointment set out in subsection 3(2).

Form of list

3.5(2)

The list must be in the following form:

(a) candidates must be listed in alphabetical order;

(b) a brief summary of the background and qualifications of each candidate must be provided;

(c) the committee's evaluation of each candidate must be set out beside the candidate's name.

Review and revision of list

3.5(3)

The committee may conduct periodic reviews of the list of candidates to ensure that persons on the list are still seeking judicial appointment and there have been no material changes that might affect the evaluation of a candidate. The committee may make revisions to the list based on those reviews.

List of candidates to minister

3.6(1)

When the minister advises the Chief Judge that the appointment of a judge is required, the judicial appointment committee must provide the minister with the current list of candidates.

Request for re-evaluation

3.6(2)

The minister may request the re-evaluation of a candidate if the minister disagrees with the committee's evaluation of the candidate.

Re-evaluation by committee

3.6(3)

The committee must re-evaluate a candidate when a request for re-evaluation is made by the minister. The committee must either provide the minister with a revised list of candidates if its evaluation of the candidate has changed or provide written confirmation that its evaluation has not changed.

10

The following is added after section 8.1:

Continuing education

8.1.1(1)

The Chief Judge may establish seminars for the continuing education of judges, including seminars on matters related to sexual assault law and social context, which includes systemic racism and systemic discrimination.

Seminars related to sexual assault law

8.1.1(2)

The Chief Judge should ensure that seminars established under subsection (1) on matters related to sexual assault law

(a) are developed after consultation with persons, groups or organizations whom the Chief Judge considers appropriate, such as sexual assault survivors and persons, groups and organizations that support them, including Indigenous leaders and representatives of Indigenous communities; and

(b) include, where the Chief Judge finds it appropriate, instruction in evidentiary prohibitions, principles of consent and the conduct of sexual assault proceedings, as well as education regarding myths and stereotypes associated with sexual assault complainants.

Reporting on seminars held

8.1.1(3)

For each seminar on matters related to sexual assault law and social context offered in a year, the Chief Judge should include the following information in the annual report required under section 11.2:

(a) the title and a description of the content of the seminar;

(b) its duration;

(c) the dates on which it was offered;

(d) the number of judges who attended.

PART 3

COMING INTO FORCE

Coming into force

11

This Act comes into force on a day to be fixed by proclamation.