Justice Administration Act Introduced

Justice Minister Jamie Muir introduced the Justice Administration Amendment (2003) Act today, April 1. The proposed amendments involve several statutes -- and will clarify and update affected legislation.

An amendment to the Interpretation Act will allow members of adjudicative bodies to complete matters that are placed before them during their term of office, after their term expires.

The Land Registration Act is being amended to reflect current banking practices. The changes set out the priority for advances made on a mortgage after a second mortgage has been placed on the property.

The Public Service Act will change to ensure that government departments have approval from governor-in-council when entering agreements with foreign governments -- as they do when signing agreements with the federal or other provincial governments.

Additional amendments will make clear that several exemptions from enforcement proceedings, as outlined in the Judicature Act, apply to the small claims court.

The Youth Justice Act will change to allow governor-in-council to delegate to a presiding justice of the peace the powers of a judge of the youth justice court. This amendment will give presiding justices of the peace the ability to hear all summary offence matters for youth aged 12 to 17.

Limitation periods, as outlined in the Securities Act, will increase. In keeping with most other jurisdictions in Canada, the time for prosecutions will increase from one to six years and from two to six years for administrative matters.