This section provides information about some of the mediation initiatives which have been undertaken by the Government of British Columbia. If you know of any other provincial government mediation initiatives which you believe should be included in this list, please contact us.

Initiatives of the Dispute Resolution Office
Mediation Statutes and Regulations
Other Programs, Projects and Policies

 

A key factor contributing to the growth of interest in mediation in British Columbia has been its ability to respond positively to concerns about the cost, delay and complexity of the province's civil justice system. A growing body of research conducted in British Columbia and other jurisdictions has shown high levels of satisfaction and success with the mediation process. The research indicates that:

• Mediation typically produces settlement rates of between 60% and 80%, depending on the context;
• Parties involved in disputes, and their lawyers, tend to react positively to the mediation process, and typically regard it as a fair and efficient way to resolve disputes; and
• The fact that parties are required to attend mediation does not significantly reduce either settlement rates or levels of satisfaction with the mediation process.

Research has also shown that, in spite of the high levels of support for mediation, very few disputants actually volunteer to participate in mediation programs. To address this, and to facilitate the early resolution of disputes, the Government of British Columbia has established numerous institutional supports for the use of mediation.

Initiatives of the Dispute Resolution Office

Among the provincial government's supports are several major initiatives and programs developed by the Dispute Resolution Office of the Ministry of Attorney General, either directly or in co-operation with other members of the mediation community. These include:

Mediation for Claims between $10,000 and $25,000
Notice to Mediate (Family) Regulation (Pilot: Effective November 1, 2007, in the Nanaimo Registry and April 1, 2008, in the Victoria and Duncan Registries. More news here)
Notice to Mediate Regulation (Motor Vehicle)
Notice to Mediate (Residential Construction) Regulation
Notice to Mediate (General) Regulation
Education Mediation Regulation
Child Protection Mediation Program
British Columbia Mediator Roster
Court Mediation Program
Family Mediation Practicum Project
Parenting After Separation Program: Mandatory Attendance

Mediation Statutes and Regulations

In the province of British Columbia, a range of statutes and regulations have been enacted which support the use of mediation to resolve disputes. For a list of these statutes and regulations (current to December 13, 2007), click here.

Other Programs, Projects and Policies

A number of other dispute resolution initiatives, including mediation programs, projects and policies, have also been established in various ministries and elsewhere in the provincial government. These include:

Ministry of Attorney General, Administrative Justice Office and Dispute Resolution Office: BC Tribunal Dispute Resolution Needs Assessment Project

Ministry of Attorney General, Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) Policy Statement

Ministry of Attorney General, Justice Services Branch: Family Justice Counsellors

Ministry of Skills Development and Labour, Employment Standards Branch: Employment Standards Mediation

Ministry of Management Services, Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy: Policy and Procedures, Section 55

Ministry of Health Services: Billing Integrity Program, Alternative Dispute Resolution Process

Ministry of Children and Family Development: Parent-Teen Mediation, Youth Services

B.C. Human Rights Tribunal

Office of the Police Complaint Commissioner: Practice Directive on Mediation