As of June 3, 2020, the Alberta Court of Queen’s Bench began hearing regular Masters Chambers applications, with an anticipated length of 20 minutes or less, via Webex video and audio. The new process for regular Masters Chambers may be viewed here.
Regular Masters Chambers in Calgary and Edmonton are being held at 10:00 a.m. every Court sitting day, Tuesday through Friday, while bankruptcy hearings are being conducted every Monday.
The regional courthouses are holding regular Masters Chambers at 10:00 a.m. in accordance with their available sitting dates. The calendars for sitting dates for all courthouses may be accessed here.
The Court is reserving the new remote Masters Chambers process for matters that cannot be address through one of the previous application initiatives launched by the Court, which include:
- Master and Justice Consent Order by Email: This procedure, which may be viewed here, allows parties to email consent orders to the Court for signing by a Master or Justice.
- Electronic Without Notice Applications- Masters: This procedure, which may be viewed here, allows for ex parte desk applications to be submitted to a Master for consideration. These types of applications were formally heard by Masters in private chambers.
- With Notice Desk Applications- Masters: This procedure, which may be viewed here, can be used for the determination of regular and special Masters Chambers applications by written submission. This procedure requires the consent of all parties involved in the application.
Per Master Order #4, Special Justice Chambers and Special Masters Chambers applications that were scheduled prior to March 16, 2020, to be heard on or after June 29, 2020 will proceed as scheduled, subject to a further suspension of the Court’s sitting dates.
We continue to closely monitor the progressing COVID-19 situation and will provide updates as they are available.