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REGIONAL WRAP-UP AG WANTS CAMERAS BUT JUDGES HAVE lAST SAy whether the pilot will actually fly still remains unclear as it depends upon a nod from the office of the provincial court's chief judge. "The court understands that the Ministry of Attorney General has announced a project to install video cameras in courtrooms in three locations in the province, including Victoria," said a state- ment released by legal officer Gene Jamieson from the provincial court's chief judge's office. "An examination is underway by the court to determine the appropriateness of expanding video recording in a manner which enhances public access and under- standing of court proceedings, while safeguarding the legitimate interests of the participants in those proceedings. Until this analy- sis is complete, the Office of the Chief Judge does not support the expanded use of video recording of court proceedings beyond that contemplated in the existing policy," the statement read. B.C. operates under a 2004 policy that sets out when videotap- B ing can be used. Essentially, it is at the discretion of the judge, and in B.C., judges have provided only limited access to media camer- as in courtrooms. "It is the judge's duty to ensure the proceedings are fair to all parties and witnesses," said the statement. De Jong has been an advocate of televised court proceed- ings insisting it would provide greater confidence in the overall court system. On Oct. 25, B.C. Bid — where B.C.'s government ministry and agencies post contracts — carried a request for pro- ritish Columbia Attorney General Mike de Jong is assem- bling a pilot project that will see provincial court judges videotaped when handing down sentences, however, posals from companies capable of training 45 staff to videotape judges handing down sentences. No lawyers, witnesses, staff, the accused, or preliminary hearings will be taped. There will not be live streaming and video will be checked for publication bans. The sentencing videos will be posted on the ministry's web site and the contractor will be responsible for maintaining it and ensuring media can download items for use. The pilot will actually focus on three regional provincial courts and all three test sites were not going to run simultaneously. However, a review of the pilot would be done in September 2011. "We anticipate the pilot project will start sometime in the new year and once we get closer to the start date, the AG will be avail- able for comment," senior public affairs officer Dave Townsend advised in an e-mail outlining the proposal, which involves the provincial courts at 222 Main St. in Vancouver, 850 Burdett Ave. in Victoria, and 455 Columbia St. in Kamloops. The RFP sets out Victoria to start in January and Kamloops and Vancouver to start after January but before March. "We are in favour of cameras in the court," said executive director David Eby of the B.C. Civil Liberties Association. "There are some people who can't make it to court. We think it is a good idea." — JEAN SORENSEN jean_sorensen@telus.net SWIMMING WITH V ancouver lawyers Tai Cheng of Borden Ladner Gervais LLP and wife Julianna Paik, who works for the B.C. Securities Commission, traded tradition for conservation at their recent wedding. Answering a call by conser- vationists to drop the traditional shark fin soup at their Chinese wedding feast, they entered a Shark Truth contest, which garnered them a Mexico hon- eymoon literally swimming with the sharks. "It was incredible," said Cheng, adding the couple was dropped into the water off Cancun in snorkelling gear with a guide. "There were about 200 of these whale sharks swimming about. They were only about a metre away." The whale shark is plankton-feeding shark "the size of a small vehicle," and poses no threat to humans. Paik and Cheng, both Canadians, were working in London, England when they met and became engaged. They returned to Canada to marry and Cheng's parents wanted a traditional Chinese wedding, although Paik was of Korean background. Shark fin soup, a delicacy, tradition- ally represents wealth and "there is almost a cultural stigma if you don't serve it," said Cheng, as it was thought to signal to the bride's family she is not marrying into a rich family. However, Cheng's cousin was working with an NGO con- servation group in Washington and at his wedding had decided to pass on the shark fin soup due to pressures on the shark population. As wealth increases in China, there is growing demand for shark delicacies and no international protection of sharks. "The shark is at the top of the food chain," said Cheng. "We have no indication how this will affect other fish in the ocean." The cousin's actions prompted Cheng and Paik to follow suit but not before seeing a news item about U.K.-based Shark Truth which 12 JAN UARY 2011 www. CANADIAN Lawye rmag.com attempted to dispel some of the myths around shark fin soup and associated products. Cheng and Paik contacted the group and were encour- aged to enter the wedding contest, which they won. At their 680-person wedding, Cheng said printed cards and an annoucement from the mas- ter of ceremonies explained their decision. A fish and scallop soup was served instead. While the serving of the shark fin soup was a tradition that goes back generations, Cheng said he and his bride didn't miss it and instead took away memories from a honeymoon that outshone any bowl of soup. "At first it is very frightening," he said as the large sharks sail by only metres away in the water. "But, then it becomes very soothing as they just float by. They don't care if you are in the water." — JS THE S H A RK S