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REGIONAL WRAP-UP ATLANTIC The decision, Justice and Consumer Affairs Minister Marie- Claude Blais told Canadian Lawyer, was made in response to feedback from women who have been through the court system. "We've heard from victims that it is a success." Established in 2007, the specialized court — at the time, the first in Atlantic Canada — arose out of the provincial government's five-year action plan, "A Better World for Women: Moving Forward," intended to alleviate violence against women. Operating out of Moncton and presided over by Judge Anne Dugas-Horsman, the court has four key goals. These include improving the response of the criminal justice sys- tem to victim needs and safety planning as well as promoting offender accountability and early intervention to help stop the cycle of violence. In addition, the court accelerates pros- ecution and court processes, and offers more timely access to services for both victims and offenders. In comparison to a traditional court, says Blais, "it's a deeper role." N.B. domestic violeNce court to coNtiNue F our years after it was launched as a pilot project, New Brunswick's domestic violence court is becoming a permanent fixture in the province's legal landscape. Specifically, the court combines specialization in domestic violence cases with co-ordinated communi- ty-based resources for support and treatment of victims and offend- ers. Support is provided to vic- tims and their children through the entire court process and treatment options for offenders are in place to help avoid abusive behaviour in the future. Since its inception the court has handled approximately 700 cases. "We had anticipated half that," says Blais. In an effort to continue providing effective services, the province is reviewing progress to date. "We are looking at best practices that the domestic vio- lence court has put in place," says Blais. — DONALEE MOULTON donalee@quantumcommunications.ca Continuing the court stems from feedback from women who use it, says minister Marie-Claude Blais. Legislative spring cleaning in N.S. N ova Scotia is doing its legis- lative spring cleaning. The province has introduced a justice administration bill it says will require "minor" changes to six acts. Critics are not convinced. "Overall, it's about simplifying things and making the system more efficient by keeping legislation current and understandable, and removing the legislation that's not being used," says Justice Department spokeswoman Tara Walsh in Halifax. Specifically, the omnibus bill, which has gone through second reading, will get rid of three pieces of legislation: the Indigent Debtors Act, the Forcible Entry and Detainer Act, and the Estreats Act. According to the justice minister, these acts, which date back approximately 20 years, are no longer used by lawyers and have been superseded by other legislation. Three other acts — the Civil Service Collective Bargaining Act, the Corrections Act, and the Highway Workers Collective Bargaining Act — will be amended to get rid of two words: arbitral and arbitrable. "Removal of these words does not change the mean- ing or intent of these acts," says Walsh. "It cleans up the language and makes the acts more understandable." She points out that axing these words will eliminate possible confusion over the jurisdiction arbitration boards have to adjudicate labour relations issues. A similar change was made to the Labour Board Act last fall. 8 JUNE 2011 www. CANADIAN Lawyermag.com Opposition members are question- ing the "omnibus" aspect of the pro- posed justice administration amend- ment (2011) act. "I'm very curious if there's anyone on the government side who could explain to me how these three bills have anything to do with the changes to collective bargaining agree- ments in the province of Nova Scotia," Michel Samson, a Liberal member of the legislative assembly, said during second reading of the bill. "I would argue that there's abso- lutely no correlation there at all," he added, "but they're thrown, not only at the very end of this bill, but they're mixed in, in the changes to the collec- tive bargaining agreements." — DM