Short applications can now be heard virtually across BC, except in Vancouver
The Supreme Court of British Columbia has expanded its associate judges chambers pilot project, allowing short applications to be heard in virtual chambers in the New Westminster Registry beginning June 1, 2026.
The court announced that applications scheduled before an associate judge with a time estimate of 30 minutes or less may now be set in virtual chambers in all court locations except the Vancouver Registry. The expansion follows the issuance of Practice Direction 72, Electronic Application Records (Associate Judges Chambers Pilot Project), and Practice Direction 73, Virtual Chambers (Associate Judges Chambers Pilot Project), both of which took effect on March 31, 2026.
The move marks a further step in the court’s efforts to streamline chambers proceedings through electronic filing and remote appearances. Under Practice Direction 73, all litigants appearing in virtual chambers participate by video by default. The practice direction provides that proceedings filed in the Vancouver Registry remain outside the scope of the virtual chambers project.
Practice Direction 73 sets out the process for scheduling applications in virtual chambers. Parties may schedule eligible applications on designated hearing dates and must file the required notice of application or requisition. A party receiving notice of an application scheduled in virtual chambers may object within five business days. If so, the matter must be rescheduled to regular chambers.
The practice direction also establishes participation requirements for respondents, procedures for distributing Microsoft Teams hearing links, and check-in requirements for counsel and parties. Participants must comply with the court’s existing technical requirements for video hearings and maintain the formality expected in court proceedings. Members of the public may listen to virtual chambers hearings through a dedicated telephone access line.
Practice Direction 72 replaces Practice Direction 68, which was issued in September 2025 and has now been rescinded. The new direction permits electronic application records for applications scheduled for 30 minutes or less before an associate judge in chambers.
Electronic application records must be filed through Court Services Online and comply with prescribed formatting requirements. The direction modifies certain filing requirements under the Supreme Court Civil Rules and Supreme Court Family Rules, including the traditional requirement for bound paper application records. Parties relying on authorities at a hearing must include those materials in their electronic application records.
The court said the registry may reject electronic application records that do not comply with the required formatting standards. Where electronic records are accepted, no paper copy is required. The direction also provides procedures for adjourned matters and for obtaining orders signed by an associate judge when parties attend remotely.
Additional information, including virtual chambers hearing dates, is available through the Supreme Court of British Columbia’s website.
