Notices, policies, practice directions
The Court publishes notices, policies and practice directions. These provide important information and directions about current court procedures and other court-related matters.
Access Policy
The court’s Access Policy explains how the public and the media can access courts and court records. It also explains publication bans, rules for using computers, and limits on photography and recording. The policy also includes information for accredited media.
Notices
The Chief Judge issues Notices to inform the legal profession and the public about court-related information.
Accordion details
- Notice 02 Form of Address for Judicial Justices: how to address a judicial justice
- Notice 03 Judicial Case Managers Assignment of Duties Pursuant to s. 11 of the Provincial Court Act: what judicial case managers do such as set dates and times for hearings
- Notice 11 Use of a Support Person in Small Claims and Family Proceedings: bringing a support person to a small claims or family proceeding
- Notice 14 Court Services Justices of the Peace Assignment of Duties Pursuant to s. 11 of the Provincial Court Act: what Court Service Branch justices of the peace do such as issue summons and warrants of arrest
- Notice 16 Judicial Justices Assignment of Duties Pursuant to s. 11 of the Provincial Court Act: describes what judicial justices can do such as hear applications for bail and traffic violation matters
- Notice 18 Hearing Location of Domestic Violence Files Within Catchment of Downtown Community Court: hearing location of domestic violence files within the Downtown Community Court jurisdiction
- Notice 24 Form of Address for Parties and Lawyers: how parties should introduce themselves in court, including their name and pronouns
- Notice 28 Current Court Operations: including what kinds of court proceedings by default happen in person, remotely, and in hybrid format
- Notice 31 Processing Outstanding Arrest Warrants for Accused with Existing Bail During Courthouse Registry Business Hours: what to do if a person has a warrant for their arrest from our court and they are out on bail
- Notice 32 Official of the Court Under Rule 62(G.1) of the Provincial Court Family Rules: who can request that information related to a person’s income, location or employer in certain federal information banks is located and disclosed
- Notice 33 Northern Virtual Bail Court Forensic Liaison Program: the process for referring an adult accused person appearing in custody for a bail hearing to a forensic liaison or forensic psychiatrist for a mental health status examination from designated Northern Virtual Bail Courtrooms
- Notice 34 Forensic Liaison Program at Designated Court Locations: the process for referring an adult accused person appearing in custody for a bail hearing to a forensic liaison for a mental health status examination from designated court locations
- Notice 35 Provincial Court Operations During FIFA World Cup 2026: information about scheduling adjustments during the FIFA World Cup 2026 at some court locations
- Notice 36 Witness and Interpreter Oath or Affirmation: the process for when a witness or interpreter wishes to make an affirmation or swear an oath using a religious or cultural item
- Notice 37 Court Location for Prosecutions under First Nation Agreements and Treaties: information about prosecution of offences under specific First Nation laws
Practice Directions
The Chief Judge issues practice directions to provide direction and guidance to court users on court procedures.
Accordion details
- CPD 1 Criminal Caseflow Management Rules Simplified Front End Criminal Process (2013): timeframes, scheduling and other information about criminal proceedings (see also CRIM 08)
- CRIM 01 Federal Tax Prosecutions: locations of federal tax prosecutions in the Vancouver and Fraser Regions (Lower Mainland)
- CRIM 02 Elections Under Section 536 Criminal Code of Canada: choosing how you want to be tried
- CRIM 03 Judicial Authorization Applications: process for obtaining a judicial authorization, like a search warrant
- CRIM 04 Scheduling of Continuations in Criminal Matters: rescheduling a criminal matter if it does not finish
- CRIM 05 Hearing of Bail Applications: when a judge will hear bail hearings in court, and when they may go to the Justice Centre instead
- CRIM 06 Prisoner Remands to East Kootenay Judicial District from Justice Centre: custody of prisoners in the East Kootenays remanded by the Justice Centre
- CRIM 08 Criminal Caseflow Management Rules Simplified Front End Process (2013) Forms and Procedure: describes forms and procedure related to the CCFM practice direction for criminal proceedings
- CRIM 09 Missing Person Act Applications: how police make an application under the Missing Persons Act
- CRIM 10 Introducing Evidence Containing High Potency Narcotics: procedure for introducing evidence that may contain high potency narcotics like fentanyl
- CRIM 11 Scheduling Conflicts between Provincial Court and the Supreme Court: what occurs if there are scheduling conflicts between a Provincial Court and a Supreme Court matter
- CRIM 12 Criminal Pre-Trial Conferences: process information for criminal pre-trial conferences, and when they are required
- CRIM 13 Initial Appearance Court: where a person charged with a crime may have their first court appearance
- CRIM 15 Electronic Distribution of Certain Criminal Reports to Defence Counsel of Record: secure file transfer of certain reports to defence counsel
- CRIM 16 Joint Hearing Criminal Case Management Orders Under s. 551.7 Criminal Code: making an application for a joint hearing in a criminal matter
- CRIM 17 Withdrawing as Counsel of Record in Criminal Matters: how a lawyer can withdraw as counsel of record in a criminal matter
- CRIM 18 Counsel Document Submission Protocol for Bail, Sentencing Hearings, and Electronic Desk Order Spring Orders: the process for counsel to submit any documents for the Court to consider for a bail or sentencing hearing
- CRIM 19 Procedure for Applications to Vary or Revoke a Publication Ban under s. 486.51 of the Criminal Code: general procedure for applying under s. 486.51 of the Criminal Code to vary or revoke a publication ban made under s. 486.4 or 486.5 of the Code
- CRIM 20 Language of Accused: explanation of the form counsel may submit for the Court to consider if counsel has advised their client of their language rights under section 530 of the Criminal Code
- CRIM 21 SOIRA Exemption Applications (S. 490.4 (1) (A) Criminal Code): procedure for filing and hearing SOIRA exemption applications under section 490.04 (1) (a) of the Criminal Code<p><span lang="EN-US">Criminal Code of Canada (CCC)</span><span lang="EN-US"> is the federal law that applies across Canada and sets out criminal offences, sentences and how a criminal case proceeds. A judge must follow the law in the </span><span lang="EN-US">Criminal Code</span><span lang="EN-US">.</span><span> </span></p>
Accordion details
- FAM 03 Scheduling of Continuations in Family Matters: rescheduling a hearing about a family law matter or child protection matter when it does not finish
- FAM 04 Procedural Protocol - Return Applications under the 1980 Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction: protocol for some child abduction matters where children are taken to another country from BC or from another country to BC
- FAM 05 Guardianship Applications When There is an Existing Order: changing a guardianship order regarding a child
- FAM 06 After-Hours Emergency Family Applications: information for lawyers bringing an emergency family application outside of court sitting hours
- FAM 09 Consent Adjournment (FLA/FMEA): information for lawyers to adjourn matters other than trials under the Family Law Act or the Family Maintenance Enforcement Act
- FAM 10 Electronic Signatures on Family Forms & Orders and Filing of Family Orders: using an electronic signature on a family law form or order
- FAM 11 Default Method of Attendance for Court Appearances under the Provincial Court Family Rules: the default method of attending court for a family matter
- FAM 12 Default Method of Attendance for Court Appearances Under the Provincial Court (CFCSA) Rules and the Provincial Court (Snuw’uy’ulhtst tu Quw’utsun Mustimuhw u’ tu Shhw’a’luqwa’a’ i’ Smun’eem) [Laws of the Cowichan People for Families and Children] Rules: the default method for attending court for a child protection matter
- FAM 13 Family Affidavits and Documents: direction that you should not include intimate images for a family law proceeding and information about the length and format of affidavits and exhibits
Accordion details
- SM CL 01 Proof of Service from Canada Post: proving that a person delivered a document in a small claims case
- SM CL 02 Default Method of Attendance for Court Appearances Under the Small Claims Rules: the default method of attending court for small claims proceedings
- SM CL 03 Small Claims Affidavits and Documents: direction that you should not include intimate images for a small claims proceeding and information about the length and format of affidavits and exhibits
- SM CL 04 Intimate Images Protection Act Procedural Requirements: procedural requirements for matters under the Intimate Images Protection Act
- SM CL 05 Scheduling of Continuations in Small Claims Matters: rescheduling a small claims matter if it does not finish
Accordion details
- GEN 01 Fax Filing Registries - Family and Small Claims: fax numbers for filing family and small claims documents
- GEN 02 Access to the Court for Lawyers and Articled Students Who Have a Disability: information about disability accommodation for lawyers and articled students
- GEN 03 Affidavits - Identification of Counsel or Commissioner: affidavit must name the person who authorized the document
- GEN 04 Subpoenas Requiring Opposing Counsel to Give Evidence: procedure to follow before a subpoena can be issued that requires opposing counsel to give evidence in a proceeding
- Gen 05 Non-Lawyers Appearing for Clients: information about designated paralegals, certain non-lawyer agents, and proponents of the Law Society’s Innovation Sandbox appearing in court (if allowed by a judge)
People may access information from court files or hear information when watching court proceedings that may be subject to a publication ban. This means they are prevented from publishing, transmitting or broadcasting that information.
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