The Civil Resolution Tribunal (CRT) is Canada’s first online tribunal for resolving strata and small claims disputes. It offers new ways to resolve people’s legal issues in a timely and cost-effective manner while encouraging a collaborative, problem-solving approach to dispute resolution, rather than the traditional courtroom model. The CRT is currently able to resolve a wide variety of disputes between strata owners and strata corporations, such as: non-payment of monthly strata fees or fines, unfair actions by the strata corporation or by people owning more than half of the strata lots in a complex, issues regarding common property, and more. The CRT ultimately aims to provide timely access to justice, built around people’s lives and needs.
The idea of using online dispute resolution and tools to improve people’s most fundamental Access to Justice issues is a brilliant new medium. Why not utilize the online space that we all spend a large amount of our lives using for almost everything? It just makes sense.
The CRT’s Shannon Salter speaks about why the use of our online space can be so beneficial for the layperson that needs and deserves access to the law. Her team that created the CRT is innovative and in tune with what changes need to be implemented so that the law is more accessible for all.
Currently in BC, condominiums are becoming popular and therefore an increasing number of strata issues are arising between unit owners and strata councils. Therefore, strata claims are no longer just an urban issue, but rural and beyond. 90% of people who bother making a claim do not go to court, and many of the remaining complainants give up somewhere during the process.
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If put myself in the shoes of someone having a legal dispute that is not significant enough to endue a lengthy court process, but is still important – I understand the deterrence that the traditional system creates. Lengthy wait times and lawyers’ fees are just a few examples of these barriers. Sometimes it seems more advantageous to grin and bear the consequences.
Having an online tool such as the CRT significantly changes these considerations. Not only would it change the fact that I could access justice literally at my fingertips from my home – but it is user friendly. I appreciate how the site explains things in layperson terms, and that there is not an overwhelming amount of information. For example, on the CRT’s ‘Solution Explorer’ the user is asked a series of simple questions about their situation, without the use of much legal jargon.
Another aspect of the CRT that is attractive is that not only is it user friendly, but that beyond that, the CRT is always attempting to improve and grow. Ms. Salter emphasizes that her team sits down every week at the head office and take into account all of the feedback and criticism they have received, and adjusts their tools accordingly. This is a great practice. As in anything, being reflective, self-aware and getting that information from your users themselves, is the key to any successful online service.
It is invaluable that there is so much current innovation regarding access to justice, especially using it in sync with the technological world we live in. I believe, as law students and future lawyers, we should realize that the reality is that a large portion of our lives is online and technological and therefore, we should use this medium to its fullest potential.
Thanks for a great post Charlotte!
I am excited by the CRT’s approach to resolving the ordinary person’s legal issues. Not everyone has the means to access or obtain legal advice and the CRT provides that access.
When I was completing my undergraduate in SFU, my father, who is an immigrant to Canada was involved in a small claims matter. He turned to me for help, however, quite honestly, I was quite confused with the legal jargon and procedural steps that needed to be followed myself. I believe a tool like the CRT’s, would have been an enormous help back then and it is comforting to know that it is available now.
-Gurdeep
Great post! In 2013 the Chief Justice of Canada, Madam Justice McLaughlin, opined that “as Canadians celebrated the new millennium, it became clear that we were increasingly failing in our responsibility to provide a justice system that was accessible, responsive and citizen-focused.”* The CRT is a perfect example of how we can use technology to make our justice system more accessible, responsive and citizen-focused. By including those who need to use the system in the development process, we can provide a system that actually works for those who use it. Why haven’t we been doing this all along?!
*Quote from a report published by the Action Committee on Access to Justice in Civil and Family Matters, Ottawa, Canada, October 2013.