Terms of Reference

July 27, 2001

Executive Summary

There are more than 60 administrative justice agencies that affect the everyday life of British Columbians in profound ways. These agencies are diverse and include the labour relations board, the human rights tribunal, the commercial appeals commission and the workers compensation board, to name just a few.

Over the course of many years, government, on behalf of the people of the province, has made an enormous public investment in its system of administrative justice. As government embarks on a mandate to return the province to its full social and economic potential, it is timely to carry out a thoughtful and comprehensive review of the administrative justice system from a broad legal and policy perspective. At the very heart of this review are fundamental questions about the nature, quality and timeliness of the services that administrative agencies offer to people and their communities.

This document sets out terms of reference for a review of administrative justice. Its objectives are to ensure that:

• administrative agencies meet the needs of the people they serve;
• their administrative processes are open and transparent;
• their mandates are modern and relevant; and
• government fulfills its obligations by providing the legislative and policy framework administrative agencies require to carry out their independent mandates effectively.

To meet these objectives, the Administrative Justice Project will:

• review the mandates of the province's administrative agencies to ensure they are relevant to a modern and efficient economy;
• make recommendations to eliminate overlapping jurisdictions and multiple proceedings;
• make recommendations to streamline administrative procedures; and
• make recommendations for government to support the work of administrative agencies in an appropriate and effective way.

The Administrative Justice Project is a major initiative and the first of its kind in British Columbia. It is central to government's commitment to the reform of British Columbia's public institutions and an integral component of government's overall core review. The project will be carried out by a team of experts from the administrative justice community and government. Consultation with interested professionals and the wider community will be welcomed and encouraged throughout. Project outcomes will be expected to foster greater public accountability and transparency, to enhance fairness and impartiality in decision-making and to facilitate public access, public service excellence and professionalism.

Critical dates and deliverables are as follows:

Phase 1: Core Review of Administrative Agencies and Backgrounders: November 30, 2001

• Core Review and Recommendations
• Administrative Justice Review
• Workplace Tribunals Review
• Human Rights Review
• Agency Appointments Policy

Phase 2: White Paper: February 28, 2002

• Recommendations for policy, procedural, legislative and regulatory reform
• Recommendations defining government's future role in supporting its administrative agencies
• Recommendations establishing a framework, process and criteria for evaluating proposals for new administrative agencies

Phase 3: Public Review: April 30, 2002

• Report and Assessment of Public Concerns

Phase 4: Competency and Accountability: June 30, 2002

• Core Competency and Training Review
• Organizational Effectiveness and Performance Measurement

Phase 5: Implementation: August 31, 2002

• Final Report and Recommendations

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