y as-is assault of a stranger’*.
Other: recommendations. sug-

gest. that ‘criminal proceedings |.
. “<nvolving a juty. should “reflect
” “the ethnic diversity’’ of the com-:
_— munity and the’ enforcenient ‘of
"fines or small claims judgments. .
should — be.

‘‘applied.. more

os __Tigorously’’. Tt also suggests: the

~ “acceptance of credit cards for _
_. the payment of fines and a:form -
‘of reduction. in penalty. for.

| | “prompt payment.

ious ait offence’ against socie- --¢ €
ais have the abate i to pre
“cess: ‘small: claims. Government:

Agents should have the’ ability, to”

“process ‘documents * for. trans?
“mission. to: “the nearest registty:-
An “added « recommendation.
-would see: Provincial Courts-ex-.
- panding their hours ‘to include:
evening and weekend sittings:.
As far as énforcement i is con-
cerned, “A: successful: ‘plaintiff “
should have the option of having -
a: cs Judgment Summons ‘hearing

The cost of justice |
. Lawyers’ Fees are addressed

a by. ‘suggesting that the cost’ of
"litigation cannot be lessened by a

reduction of fees, but fees might

- be lessened by a simplification

of legal proceedings.

In this

-regard, the report states that the

_- Law Society should encourage .
..jits members to see that their
_ clients’ expectations of a lawsuit —

more closely match their own

_ and: must be vigilant in exercis-

‘ing its disciplinary powers where

'. “unreasonable fees have been
a charged. ‘‘The Law Society also
* should consider ways of better

‘communicating information .to

the public at large about
lawyers’ fees generally and the
means available for having
lawyers’
the report concludes.

_ The report continues by look-

= ing at legal Costs. The idea that

“a. person winning a lawsuit

_. Should recover at least a part of
'_-their- costs was established at
least 700 years ago. But ac-

cording to the report, the ap-

a ‘plication of this principle is.con-
. .; fusing and the amount awarded
oe is ‘generally not adequate. .

-This has resulted in several

Lo recommendations which. include

the elimination of a maximum
ward, an order as to costs on all
pre-trial applications, and the

use of plain language that will

_ ».Make sense.to lawyers and non-
“lawyers alike. Also, “When a
"party has put another party to

further expense to enforce ‘or

collect a judgment, the Registrar

° should. award

full ‘ reimburse-

ae ment. ‘of all those extra - costs
_”.. which were incurred reasonably

ee _and properly.”

As far as Court Filing Fees are

7 ‘concerned, the report calls for a

: “simple;
' =,.eedure for people who wish to.

‘straightforward —pro-

~~“ apply-for a.waiver of fees due to
an inability to pay.

- o's With regard to Small Claims

-- Court. the committee has rec-

ommended raising the monetary

jurisdiction from $3,000 to

~ *+.$5,000, They also address the

-< difficulty of access in remote

_ “areas by saying that Provincial

accounts reviewed,’’

- conducted immediately follov :
ing judgment, Form: of release.

should be provided to accommo-

date a defendant who ‘is’ willing:

to pay the judgment ‘on the
spot.”’ “Also, : “Appeals from

decisions of the Small Claims
Court should. .be abolished.”
Under the present .system, ap-

peals on small claims judgments
can be filed in County Court;
but according to the committee
this is unfair. ‘*This is a very ex-
pensive process and often im-
practical, given the amount of
money at stake. Appeals in
Small Claims Court give an un-

fair advantage to those litigants —
with the time or money to con-
tinue the litigation,”’

Local laws _

Enforcement of Municipal
By-laws is addressed in the
report by recommending a pilot
program which would see the
appointment of sitting Justices
of the Peace in Kelowna and
Prince George. These Justices of
the Peace would travel through-
out their region to hear
municipal bylaw cases, and if
the program is successful, it
should be expanded to other
centers in the province. Also, the
committee recommends that
municipalities should have the

- Tight to designate specific bylaws

which. could be enforced by
means of a= ticket. The
municipality would also have the
right to set a ‘‘maximum
allowable fine’? and would be
responsible for collecting fines
and issuing summonses where
payment is refused.

. Special groups .
A section addressing the

Justice Requirements of Par- -

ticular Groups suggests that all
disadvantaged groups in our
society should have access to
funding which will allow them to
define and enforce their rights
under the Charter of Rights and
Freedoms. Recommendations
under this heading include the
physically disabled, the hearing
impaired and anyone involun-
tarily admitted to. a mental
health facility. -

 menditictss th

voiced by the Native communi-

ty; The report suggests that the

"government and any ‘appropriate

agencies “should expand. their.
support ‘of the. Native: Court
“worker, Program, Native -com-
. munities should be’ encouraged
to: develop. their own diversion
‘programs, mediation-and coun-. .|
-selling services’ ‘should: be made _
_ available to those encountering.

family problems, and the Pro-

66 ~~ -yineial’ Court” should: be en- J
‘Appeals i in Small Claims Court gave an. un- ~gouiraged to arrange sittings on

fair advantage to those: litigants with the time

| a reserves, particularly in remote
oF money to continue the litigation.” Lf

Dey areas. os

“Technology -

“The report - -also deals with » |
Technology and the Justice Sys- i
- dem. It states that “‘a: carefully - |
‘designed: Management Informa-.
-tion System: is essential’’ and

would permit the development
of standards and models as well

as help to forecast. future

demands on the system. Recom-

mendations in this section deal
.with electronic filing, facsimile

transmission, computer-oriented
court reporting services, public

" access to computer-stored infor- -
mation, and a concept of a com-—

puter integrated courtroom for
greater efficienty and access.

Other. recommendations in-
cluded in the report relate to pre:

_.trial case management,

economical litigation program,
appeals, an alternate dispute
resolution and statutory amend-

the. ‘committee ae
“dresses many. of the complaints:

the present justice

In’ a press conference field int
: ‘Terrace last month, Attorney -i
General Bud,-Smith. introduced:
the committee’s’ ‘Tecommenda-
tions by saying: they. have come:
up -with a ‘report that, :if im-..
plemented, will make'the justice
- system more accessible to the.
average citizen. | Although ‘he
- describes
system as ‘‘excellent”, he says
: that the committee was ; original. :

~ HOSPITAL VISITING HOURS

‘Ws set’ up because “‘the 5 ayia 7
has more people that want to use,. -
it than it has the ability to fulfi |
ata: reasonable cost’’.
Smith: ‘says ‘that the report’ is.

the result of “one of the most i in-

‘depth. reviews of our province’s —
{justice system ever undertaken.”
He. adds that’ the committee rg .
tour of the provincelast spring: _
‘was a success. “Everyone who

asked to be heard: was heard, ”

-he- said.

PUBLIC NOTICE

Our patients (your family and friends) need
adequate rest in order to get better quickly.

Often patient rooms are crowded with visitors .
who. stay well beyond the approved. visiting
times. This is detrimental to our patients and

“ preciated.
Pediatrics

. Psychiatry.
ModiecaliSurglcal

. we respectfully urge the public to observe our
visiting regulations listed below. Your co-.}- -
. Operation will be helpful and greatly -ap- .

3 p.m. - 8 p.m.
’ Parents may visit 8.a.m. - 1 p. m.

3 p.m. - 8 p.m.
3 p.m. -5 p.m.

7 p.m. - 8 p.m.
_ Children may visit 3 P. m. « -§ pm. OL
Sundays only. :

- Maternity :

3pm. - 5 p.m.
7 p.m. - 8 p.m.

_ Fathers may visit 10 a.m. - 8 p. m.
Siblings may visit 3 p.m. - 5 p.m. .
and7p.m.-8p.m..

(half hour visits only).

intensive Care Unit’

5.- 10 minutes at the discretion

of the nurse or physician.

Children under 12 years of age may not visit except as
Indicated above. Two visitors only per patient. |

Fine Dining | Et
In quiet surroundings! +.
Be p.m. — 10 p.m. Se
fon s620 Lakelse Avenue
638-8141

4 Polly’s Cafe

- Chinese & Western Cuisine

Mon.—Thurs. 10:30 am. =~ midnight
Fri. & Sat. 10:30 a.m. — 1 am.
_ Sunday 12:00 a.m. — 10 p.m.

638-1848 o 638-8034

GIM’S

(

aS RESTAURANT.

’ Chinese & Canadian Food
OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK

Specializing in Chinese’
Cuisine and Canadian

This spot could
be yours

Mon - Wed (1:30 am, — 10:00 p. of
Ni Thursday 11:30 aun. —~ 21:00 Patten 7 ; Dishes
vo oats 1500 cr Tadd GB] Seccker asst
U att. . al eo CAs, le
4643 Park Avenue Pess-6i | | ee) en —
Copper CG
my Grill ote |
635-6630

hours.

Terrace Hotel

For your dining pleasure we have
expanded our Copper Grill Restaurant

7.a.m. to 9 p.m.

Monday to Friday
10 a.m. to 11 p.m.

_ Saturday
9 a.m. to 11 p.m. .

635-6300

Sunday —
11 a.m. to 11 p.m.

COLD BEER and WINE STORE

~— Open Holidays —

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eit nal , ,, =r

pA Meg ts ol Et

fe al a ae te