With regards to the new government measures regarding COVID-19, the Provinical Court and Court of Queen’s Bench have released new notices.
Notice – COVID -19 – Suspension and Restriction of Hearings (November 10, 2020) – “The Provincial Court of Manitoba is once again reducing court operations while continuing to ensure meaningful access to those with urgent matters. Effective Thursday, November 12, 2020, all remaining circuit court sittings throughout Manitoba are cancelled until and including December 11, 2020 or until further notice.” See the notice for more details on in custody, out of custody, child protection, and other court matters.
Notice – Adjustments to Current Scheduling Protocols – November 16 to December 11, 2020 – “With the exception of those judge-alone criminal trials involving accused persons who are in custody, all currently scheduled trials set to proceed between Monday, November 16, 2020 and Friday, December 11, 2020, will be adjourned to administrative lists for rescheduling.”
For Family Division matters, those adjourned trials will be appearing on administrative lists set down for Thursday, December 10, 2020.
For General Division matters, those adjourned trials will be appearing on administrative lists set down for Friday, December 11, 2020
“All other judicial services currently being offered by the Court of Queen’s Bench by video or audio conference in the areas of criminal, civil, family, and child protection will continue as before, unchanged.”
Masters’ Court – COVID-19 Update (November 12, 2020) – “Due to the entire Province of Manitoba being moved to the critical level (red), effective Thursday, November 12, 2020, the Maintenance Enforcement dockets in Brandon, Dauphin, Portage la Prairie, Morden, The Pas and Thompson will be suspended effective Friday, November 13, 2020, until further notice.”
“The Law Fees and Probate Charge Act (C.C.S.M. c. L80) has been amended as of November 6, 2020. Effective immediately, the Act is now titled The Court Services Fees Act and charges relating to applications for probate or administration have been eliminated.”
Additionally, “precautions will be put in place by Sheriff Services, which includes enhanced COVID screening questions and temperature screening for all members of the public and court stakeholders, including counsel,upon entry to the Law Courts Building.”
Notice – COVID-19 – Update (November 2, 2020) – Explains new precautions by Sheriff Services. “will continue to hear both in custody and out of custody matters in all of the major court centres and the circuits which remain open. All existing protocols remain in force.” It will also be reassessing protocols on a weekly basis.
COVID – Use of Masks – Province wide (September 8, 2020) – Due to challenges of social distancing in smaller courthouses, the Use of Masks policy set out in the September 7th notice will apply province wide starting September 10, 2020.
COVID – Use of Masks (September 7, 2020) – Due to a positive test of COVID-19 in the law courts building, starting September 8, 2020 masks will be mandatory in certain areas of the courthouse. Details of these areas and further information can be found in the notice.
Amendments to the Law Fees and Probate Charge Regulation (322/87 R) have updated the filing fees for documents in the Court of Queen’s Bench Family Division.
Effective immediately, a Notice of Opposition to Variation has a filing fee of $35.00.
The amended regulation also clarifies the fee for filing a Request for Triage Conference as $35.00.
On August 19, 2020, health orders were issued which rated the Prairie Mountain Health Region a Code Orange – or a restricted designation which indicates community transmission of COVID19 is occurring. Given this, the Manitoba Courts are issuing this Notice, now requiring all persons who enter any court facility where a Code Orange is in place to wear a mask. This currently includes only the Prairie Mountain Health Region. Masks may be non-medical masks and will be available as required at all affected court facilities as of Monday August 31, 2020.
The Manitoba Law Library would like to acknowledge with gratitude that we are situated on Treaty One Territory, the traditional lands of the Anishinaabe, Cree and Dakota peoples, and the homeland of the Métis Nation.
Printing and Photocopying
If you need to use the library’s printing and photocopying services you will need to create an account. See us at the front desk for assistance.
Please note: The library will be closing early on Friday, December 13th at 11:00AM for a special event. Regular library service will resume Monday, December 16th at 8:30AM.
The Great Library will be closed from December 25, 2024 to January 1, 2025 for the winter holidays. Regular office hours will resume on Thursday, January 2, 2025.