{{Short description|Government administrative tribunal in British Columbia, Canada}} {{copy edit|date=April 2025}} {{Infobox government agency | name = Civil Resolution Tribunal | type = | image = BC_Civil_Resolution_Tribunal.jpg | formed = 2015 | jurisdiction = Government of British Columbia | minister1_name = Niki Sharma, Attorney General | imagesize = | caption = | image2 = | imagesize2 = | chief1_name = Shelley Lopez | chief1_position = Chair | parent_department = Ministry of Attorney General | website = https://civilresolutionbc.ca/ | agency_type = Administrative Tribunal }}

The '''Civil Resolution Tribunal (CRT)''' is Canada's first online administrative tribunal,<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://civilresolutionbc.ca/about-the-crt/|title=About the CRT - Civil Resolution Tribunal|work=Civil Resolution Tribunal|access-date=2018-05-08|language=en-US}}</ref> located in British Columbia (BC), Canada and created under a Provincial statute. It is one of the first examples in the world of online dispute resolution (ODR) being incorporated into the public justice system.

== History ==

The CRT was established as a ''quasi-judicial'' administrative tribunal under the Civil Resolution Tribunal Act (CRTA), which came into force on March 15, 2013.<ref>{{cite web |title=Civil Resolution Tribunal Act |url=http://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/justice/about-bcs-justice-system/legislation-policy/legislation-updates/civil-resolution-tribunal-act |accessdate=25 February 2017 |publisher=British Columbia}}</ref>

The CRTA was intended to establish an accessible and informal process to allow specified minor disputes to be handled efficiently outside the traditional court system.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Hansard Content {{!}} Legislative Assembly of BC |url=https://www.leg.bc.ca/hansard-content/Debates/39th4th/20120507pm-Hansard-v37n2.htm |access-date=2025-12-15 |website=www.leg.bc.ca}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Hansard Content {{!}} Legislative Assembly of BC |url=https://www.leg.bc.ca/hansard-content/Debates/39th4th/20120508pm-Hansard-v37n4.htm |access-date=2025-12-15 |website=www.leg.bc.ca}}</ref> In this way, the CRT is intended to support access to justice.

The CRT derives its powers from statute rather than the inherent jurisdiction of the courts. The CRT chair and members are appointed by the Lieutenant Governor in Council through an order in council.

The CRT began public operations on July 13, 2016.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Civil Resolution Tribunal |date=14 December 2025 |title=Annual Report 2016-17 |url=https://civilresolutionbc.ca/about-the-crt/reports-and-publications/ |url-status=live |website=Reports and Publications}}</ref> The CRT initially had jurisdiction over small claims disputes under $5,000 and strata property (condominium) disputes.

On April 23, 2018, the government of BC introduced legislation to expand the CRT's jurisdiction to include certain motor vehicle accident disputes and disputes for some sections of the [http://www.bclaws.ca/civix/document/id/lc/statreg/15018_01 Societies Act] and the [http://www.bclaws.ca/Recon/document/ID/freeside/00_99028_01 Co-operative Association Act].

As of 2025, the CRT adjudicates claims related to:

* the ''[https://www.bclaws.gov.bc.ca/civix/document/id/complete/statreg/23011 Intimate Images Protection Act]'' * motor vehicle accident claims, including matters related to insurance, accident benefits, determination of whether an injury is a “minor injury”, and assessment of responsibility for an accident * small claims up to $5,000 * strata property disputes under the ''Strata Property Act'' * certain disputes related to cooperatives and societies under the ''Societies Act'' and ''Cooperative Association Act'' == CRT rules == The Civil Resolution Tribunal (CRT) operates independently and establishes its own rules of practice and procedure. These rules function like an instructional manual, facilitating fairness, transparency, and consistency in the tribunal's operations.

As part of its commitment to upholding these principles, the CRT undertakes regular reviews and updates of its rules. This ensures that the rules remain clear, coherent, and equitable for all parties involved in dispute resolution processes.<ref>{{cite web |last1=CRT |title=CRT Rules |url=https://civilresolutionbc.ca/resources/rules-and-policies/ |website=Civil Resolution Tribunal |date=5 August 2021 |publisher=CRT |access-date=February 27, 2024}}</ref>

=== Standard rules ===

Standard Rules apply to all types of CRT disputes other than certain types of claims under the ''Intimate Images Protection Act.'' From 2016 to February 2024, the CRT changed its rules sixteen times.

=== Intimate image protection order rules ===

As of February 2024, the CRT established a second set of rules for the Intimate Images Protection Act.

== Dispute resolution process == The CRT provides the public with access to interactive information pathways, tools, and a variety of dispute resolution methods including negotiation, facilitation and, if necessary, adjudication. Participants use these justice services from a computer or mobile device. For those who are unable or unwilling to use technology to resolve their dispute, the tribunal provides paper-based or telephone-based services.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Salter |first=Shannon |date=2017-12-05 |title=Online Dispute Resolution and Justice System Integration: British Columbia's Civil Resolution Tribunal |url=https://ojs.uwindsor.ca/ojs/leddy/index.php/WYAJ/article/view/5008 |journal=Windsor Yearbook of Access to Justice |language=En |volume=34 |issue=1 |pages=112–129 |doi=10.22329/wyaj.v34i1.5008 |issn=2561-5017 |doi-access=free}}</ref>

=== CRT design - stages 1 to 4 ===

The CRT dispute resolution process has [https://civilresolutionbc.ca/crt-process/ four stages]:

# Apply and respond - make or respond to a claim. This is done using the Solution Explorer, an online tool which presents the legal options for an applicant. They can file a Dispute Notice which the respondent is given a specific time period to respond to - this can constitute of agreement, a proposed settlement or a dispute of the claim. # Online negotiation with participating parties. If both parties agree, they enter negotiation using online tools for discussing the dispute. If no agreement is reached a CRT case manager contacts them to begin the facilitation stage. # Facilitation with CRT staff. If negotiation is unsuccessful, this stage is undertaken where CRT facilitators discuss the claims of both parties, via phone and/or email. If this is unsuccessful, the case is moved to adjudication. # Adjudication. If the parties are unable to reach a resolution, the dispute goes to adjudication. In most cases, the parties submit written evidence and arguments. Then, an independent tribunal member makes a decision based on the law and the parties’ evidence and arguments. The decision is then peer-reviewed before it is finalized. If the parties disagree with the final decision they can petition the BC Supreme Court for judicial review.

=== CRT Vice-Chair Escalations ===

In November 2022, the CRT created and filled the Vice-chair Escalations position. The Vice-chair Escalations performs an adjudicative and dispute resolution function within the tribunal. The position receives escalations and decides on interim applications on all disputes.{{citation needed|date=December 2025}}

=== Enforcement === Under section 57 of the CRTA, a validated copy of the CRT's order can be enforced through the Supreme Court of British Columbia if it is an order for financial compensation or return of personal property over $35,000.<ref>{{cite web|title=Sec. 57 of ''The Civil Resolution Tribunal Act''|url=https://www.canlii.org/en/bc/laws/stat/sbc-2012-c-25/latest/sbc-2012-c-25.html|publisher=Canadian Legal Information Institute|accessdate=24 January 2022}}</ref> Under section 58 of the CRTA, the order can be enforced through the Provincial Court of British Columbia if it is an order for financial compensation or return of personal property under $35,000.<ref>{{cite web|title=''Day v. The Owners, Strata Plan VR 320'' |url=https://www.canlii.org/en/bc/bccrt/doc/2022/2022bccrt11/2022bccrt11.html|publisher=Canadian Legal Information Institute|accessdate=24 January 2022}}</ref> Once filed, a CRT order has the same force and effect as an order of the court that it is filed in.<ref>{{cite web|title=See for example par. 48 in ''Day v. The Owners, Strata Plan VR 320''|url=https://decisions.civilresolutionbc.ca/crt/sd/en/item/518939/index.do|publisher=Civil Resolution Tribunal|accessdate=17 January 2022}}</ref>

=== Judicial review === Under section 56.6 of the CRTA, a party may petition the Supreme Court of British Columbia for a judicial review of a CRT decision. A petition must commence within 60 days from the date of a CRT decision.<ref>{{cite web|title=Sec. 56.6 of ''The Civil Resolution Tribunal Act''|url=https://www.canlii.org/en/bc/laws/stat/sbc-2012-c-25/latest/sbc-2012-c-25.html|publisher=Canadian Legal Information Institute|accessdate=24 January 2022}}</ref> In a judicial review, the court generally determines whether the tribunal had the authority to make a particular decision and whether the tribunal exercised that authority.<ref>{{cite web|title=A Guidebook to ''Judicial Review''|url=https://supremecourtbc.ca/sites/default/files/web/Judicial-Review.pdf|publisher=Supreme Court of British Columbia|accessdate=24 January 2022}}</ref>

The Supreme Court will not interfere with a CRT decision unless the decision is patently unreasonable.<ref>{{cite web|title=The Owners, Strata Plan VR320 v Day, 2023 Supreme Court of BC 364|url=https://www.canlii.org/en/bc/bcsc/doc/2023/2023bcsc364/2023bcsc364.html|publisher=Supreme Court of British Columbia|accessdate=15 March 2023}}</ref> The courts hold that, "Even if the court considers parts of the tribunal's rationale to be flawed or unreasonable, so long as the decision as a whole is reasonable, no patent unreasonableness can be found."<ref>The Owners, Strata Plan VR320 v Day, 2023 BCSC 364 (CanLII), at par. 20 <https://canlii.ca/t/jw4w0>, retrieved on 2023-03-26</ref>

== Annual reports ==

The CRT has published annual reports each fiscal year since 2016–17.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-02-16 |title=Reports and Publications - BC Civil Resolution Tribunal |url=https://civilresolutionbc.ca/about-the-crt/reports-and-publications/ |access-date=2025-12-15 |language=en-US}}</ref>

== Chairs ==

* Shannon Salter 2015 - 2022{{Citation needed|date=August 2025}}<ref>{{Cite web |last=Rosteck |first=Tanja |date=2022-02-16 |title=Richard Rogers Appointed CRT Acting Chair - BC Civil Resolution Tribunal |url=https://civilresolutionbc.ca/blog/richard-rogers-appointed-crt-acting-chair/ |access-date=2025-12-15 |language=en-US}}</ref> * Richard Rogers 2022<ref>{{Cite web |last=Rosteck |first=Tanja |date=2022-02-16 |title=Richard Rogers Appointed CRT Acting Chair - BC Civil Resolution Tribunal |url=https://civilresolutionbc.ca/blog/richard-rogers-appointed-crt-acting-chair/ |access-date=2025-12-15 |language=en-US}}</ref> * Simmi Sandhu 2022 - 2023{{Citation needed|date=August 2025}}<ref>{{Cite web |last=General |first=Attorney |title=Simmi Sandhu steps down as chair of Civil Resolution Tribunal |url=https://news.gov.bc.ca/releases/2023ag0074-002010 |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250515201315/https://news.gov.bc.ca/releases/2023ag0074-002010 |archive-date=2025-05-15 |access-date=2025-12-15 |website=BC Gov News |language=en}}</ref> * Shelley Lopez 2023 - present{{Citation needed|date=August 2025}}<ref>{{Cite web |last=Ministry of Attorney General |first= |title=New chair appointed to Civil Resolution Tribunal |url=https://news.gov.bc.ca/releases/2024ag0024-000636 |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250418002339/https://news.gov.bc.ca/releases/2024ag0024-000636 |archive-date=2025-04-18 |access-date=2025-12-15 |website=BC Gov News |language=en}}</ref>

== References == {{Reflist}} *

==External links== * {{official website| http://www.civilresolutionbc.ca}} * {{cite web |last1=Henderson |first1=B. |title=Is access to justice a design problem? |url=https://www.legalevolution.org/2019/06/is-access-to-justice-a-design-problem-099/ |website=Legal Evolution |publisher=Legal Blog Indiana University Maurer School of Law |date=June 23, 2019}}

Category:Canadian tribunals