About Administrative Justice
The mandate of the Dispute Resolution Office (DRO) includes being an innovative centre of research — to analyze, report on and, where appropriate, lead administrative justice reform to support the best administrative justice system for British Columbians. The office ensures that B.C.’s system presents an effective dispute resolution alternative.
The DRO is part of the Ministry of the Attorney General. Its administrative justice component was established to support and continue the first-ever comprehensive review of B.C.’s administrative justice system, which started in 2001.
The DRO works for and with members of the public who look to the administrative justice system for alternative dispute resolution, as well as regulatory and other decisions and policy implementation. The office also works with B.C.'s independent administrative tribunals that resolve disputes, make decisions and implement policy; the provincial ministries that work with and fund administrative tribunals; and the lawyers, both in government and private practice, who appear before or advise administrative tribunals.
The DRO monitors and researches innovative administrative justice developments and practices adopted or considered by other provinces, the federal government and internationally. The DRO reviews and considers new ideas and concepts raised by academics and others in research, as well as learned articles and journals. The DRO also monitors and analyzes court decisions to ensure B.C.'s administrative justice system is able to respond quickly and positively to identifiable gaps in or changes necessary for administrative justice. See Publications and Research for further information on DRO research activities
A key focus for the DRO is to promote the co-operative development of new policies, practices and legislation. The DRO collaborates and consults with officials throughout government, members of the tribunal community and the public. The DRO works closely with the Circle of Chairs (of B.C.'s administrative tribunals who consult with each other on issues of common interest) and also the provincial government's Board Resourcing and Development Office. Visit links for information about other organizations involved in administrative justice law reform.
One example of the DRO’s work is reform legislation enacted in 2004, the Administrative Tribunals Act (ATA). The result of several years research and consultation with stakeholders, the ATA places B.C. at the forefront of systemic administrative justice reform. British Columbia is the first Canadian common law jurisdiction to enhance decision-making independence by enshrining merit-based, fixed-term appointments as a legislative requirement. The ATA also provides a comprehensive set of statutory powers and obligations, expressed in clear, consistent legislative language that enhances public confidence in and access to administrative justice. The ATA is discussed in detail on this website. To see how reforms are reflected in B.C.'s laws, go to Legislation.
The ATA provides a foundation and framework for the DRO and administrative justice system stakeholders for future public policy decisions about new administrative institutions and their powers and procedures. In this way, future developments will reflect a comprehensive system and serve British Columbians with greater efficiency and fairness in years to come.
Examples of other areas in which the DRO is providing advice and support to the administrative justice sector include the ongoing development and implementation of model generic documents for tribunals and others to consider adapting to meet their unique circumstances. These include memorandums of understanding between tribunals and respective ministries to enhance tribunal efficiency, as well as practice directives to inform the public of clear and reasonable time frames for resolving issues. The DRO continues to work on a variety of models and guides to support effective and efficient administrative justice processes. To learn more about this work, go to the Tribunal Tool Kit.
