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VICTORIA – Legislation introduced today will strengthen appointments to administrative tribunals and is the first in a series of legislative reforms to ensure the administrative justice system is more open, accountable and affordable, said Attorney General Geoff Plant.
“Until now, there have been no consistent legislative guidelines for appointing members and chairs of tribunals,” said Plant. “This led to shortcomings, uncertainties, duplication and overlap in the selection process. The act establishes a merit-based process that will ensure the appointment of qualified candidates and provide for input from tribunal chairs during the selection process.”
British Columbia has more than 40 independent administrative tribunals that hear appeals from the decisions of public officials, administer public regulatory programs, resolve disputes between opposing parties and make decisions affecting people’s legal rights.
In 2001, the government initiated the administrative justice project, the first-ever comprehensive review of this key component of the province’s justice system. Through a white paper posted in 2002, the government received more than 50 recommendations for reform, including the reforms in the act introduced today.
The Administrative Tribunals Appointment and Administration Act will: · Create a merit-based appointment process for the appointment of qualified candidates to positions as chairs and members of administrative tribunals. · Clarify the roles and responsibilities of ministers and tribunal chairs in selecting and appointing tribunal members. · Reinforce the independence of administrative tribunals by implementing fixed terms and clarifying the terms and conditions of tribunal appointments.
“Administrative tribunals are often the public’s only point of contact with the justice system,” added Plant. “The act we’ve introduced will help ensure that the appointment process for tribunal members and chairs is transparent and accountable. This, in turn, will strengthen the public’s confidence in the administrative justice system.”
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