IMPROVEMENTS TO QUEEN'S BENCH MEDIATION PROGRAM

Legislation introduced today will improve the Queen's Bench mediation program.

The Queen's Bench Amendment Act, 2004, will make the program more flexible. It will also allow the director of the program to grant exemptions or to postpone mediation so that applications of that nature will not have to be made to the Court.

"The Queen's Bench mandatory mediation program was introduced several years ago and has proven very successful," Justice Minister Frank Quennell said. "These amendments will ensure that mediation continues to occur as soon as possible while making the program flexible enough to ensure that mediation occurs at the time it will be most productive."

The amendments are the result of an independent evaluation of the program conducted in 2003. The evaluation found there is widespread support for both the universal nature of the program and the timing of mediation in the early stages of litigation. The evaluation also found that the program would be improved by the amendments introduced today.

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For More Information, Contact:

Andrew Dinsmore Justice Regina Phone: (306) 787-8606