Victoria, B.C. — After months of work and public consultation, the Civil Resolution Tribunal (CRT) is pleased to announce the release of its Reconcili(action) Plan 2021-2024. This plan sets out the CRT’s commitment to implement specific, measurable, and timely actions toward reconciliation with Indigenous peoples. The plan includes 42 short and long-term actions to better serve Indigenous peoples through the CRT process.
CRT Chair Shannon Salter says, “The CRT is committed to reconciliation with Indigenous peoples. We acknowledge the historical and ongoing impacts of systemic racism, colonialism, and the residential school system on Indigenous peoples. We also recognize the resulting trauma, limited access to justice, and barriers to Indigenous representation.”
The CRT is committed to providing a friendly and culturally safe space that will support, encourage and maintain relationships with Indigenous peoples. As part of this commitment, a staff member known as the CRT Navigator is available to assist Indigenous participants through the dispute resolution process.
The CRT also acknowledges the need to provide equitable opportunities for Indigenous peoples to join the CRT as staff and tribunal members.
Progress will be reported on the CRT’s website, social media and in the CRT’s annual reports. The CRT welcomes comments and suggestions from Indigenous peoples, advocates and the general public to continuously improve the plan.
The CRT would like to thank artist Clayton Gauthier of the Nak’azdli First Nation, and of Northern Cree descent, for the gift of using his artwork in the CRT’s Reconcili(action) Plan. CRT staff and tribunal members are deeply honoured to accept this gift on behalf of the tribunal. To read the CRT’s Reconcili(action) Plan 2021-2024, visit: https://civilresolutionbc.ca/wp content/uploads/2021/03/CRT-Reconciliaction-Plan-2021-2024.pdf
About the CRT:
The Civil Resolution Tribunal (CRT) is part of the justice system in B.C. It is an independent administrative tribunal that adjudicates certain small claims, and disputes about motor vehicle accidents, stratas, and societies and cooperative associations.
Quick Facts:
• The CRT is Canada’s first online tribunal.
• The CRT began resolving strata disputes on July 13, 2016, small claims disputes on June 1, 2017 and motor vehicle injury disputes on April 1, 2019.
• As of February 28, 2021, the CRT has handled 20,963 disputes.
• The CRT’s website contains a page for Indigenous participants:
• Clayton Gauthier is an artist who creates carvings, drums, rattles, murals, and tattoos. He is also an award-winning author and illustrator of children’s books.
Learn More:
In establishing its commitments, the CRT considered leading documents including:
• Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada: Calls to Action (2015) (“TRC Calls to Action”): http://nctr.ca/assets/reports/Calls_to_Action_English2.pdf
• United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (2007) (“UNDRIP”): https://www.un.org/development/desa/indigenouspeoples/wp
content/uploads/sites/19/2018/11/UNDRIP_E_web.pdf
• Reclaiming Power and Place: The Final Report of the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls (2019): https://www.mmiwg-ffada.ca/final-report/
• BC Human Rights Tribunal: Expanding Our Vision: Cultural Equality & Indigenous Peoples’ Human Rights (2020):
http://www.bchrt.bc.ca/shareddocs/indigenous/expanding-our-vision.pdf
• Draft Principles that Guide the Province of British Columbia’s Relationship with Indigenous Peoples (2018):
