{"id":6196,"date":"2022-09-15T13:52:52","date_gmt":"2023-08-12T08:04:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.millerthomson.com\/key-changes-alberta-court\/"},"modified":"2025-12-29T19:02:29","modified_gmt":"2025-12-30T00:02:29","slug":"key-changes-alberta-court","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.millerthomson.com\/en\/insights\/commercial-litigation\/key-changes-alberta-court\/","title":{"rendered":"Key changes impacting the Courts of Alberta"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The Queen\u2019s Bench becomes the King\u2019s Bench, the term \u201cMaster\u201d is phased out, and other changes of note<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The Alberta Court of Queen\u2019s Bench issued several notices<\/a> in August and September 2022, announcing important changes to civil practice in the province.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Move to King’s Bench<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II passed away peacefully on September 8, 2022, at the age of 96. On her passing, the Crown transferred to her son, now known as King Charles III. As a result, the Alberta Court of Queen\u2019s Bench has become the Alberta Court of King\u2019s Bench.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This change will require updates to many forms, templates, and documents within the Alberta judicial system. While litigants are encouraged to adopt the new terminology in their filings, the Court has announced that it will extend a grace period in which it will continue to accept documents referring to Her Majesty the Queen until further notice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What’s in a name?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Another piece of significant news emerged when it was announced that the titles of \u201cMaster\u201d and \u201cMaster in Chambers\u201d would be replaced with \u201cApplications Judge.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Under section 9 of the Court of Queen\u2019s Bench Act<\/em>, RSA 2000, c C-31, a Master has many of the same powers as a judge sitting in chambers, with certain exceptions (such as Masters are not able to hear trials, applications for injunctive relief, or criminal matters). Masters, now Applications Judges, hear and decide various types of applications including procedural orders, default judgments, amendments to pleadings, security for costs, long delay applications, discovery disputes, and even summary judgment applications. They also routinely hear foreclosure and builders\u2019 lien matters. They can hear short applications (generally lasting 10-20 minutes) in morning chambers, or longer applications lasting a half to a whole day in special chambers. They play an essential role in managing many pre-trial steps that occur throughout courtrooms in Alberta.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, concerns have been raised that the term \u201cMaster\u201d is not gender neutral and can imply negative historical and cultural connotations. As described by Chief Justice Mary T. Moreau,<\/a> the transition from Master to Applications Judge reflects the Court\u2019s commitment to equality, diversity, inclusivity and innovation. In making this change the Court is brought into alignment with other jurisdictions, including courts in New Zealand, Australia, and Ontario.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At a hearing, Applications Judges may be addressed as \u201cJudge ____\u201d or \u201cYour Honour\u201d. Applications and orders should be revised to reflect these new titles. While some lawyers may trip over this new title as they adjust to the change, this announcement is a step towards modernizing Alberta\u2019s judicial system and ensuring that all feel welcome when appearing in chambers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Return to the courthouse<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The Court also recently announced that many of the chambers applications which were pivoted to online hearings or desk applications during the COVID-19 pandemic are returning to in-person hearings in the courtroom. Effective September 6, 2022, substantive matters will be heard in-person by default while more administrative and procedural matters will be heard remotely. In addition, the Court will no longer hear complex desk applications, and certain urgent applications are being moved from Urgent Matter Chambers back to Regular Chambers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Further details about hearings for specific types of applications can be found in the Court of King\u2019s Bench of Alberta Hearing Guidelines<\/a>. These changes are part of a Pilot Project, and will be reviewed in early 2023.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n

Miller Thomson LLP is here to help with all of your business needs. If you have questions about procedures before the Court of King\u2019s Bench or any other matter, please contact a member of our Commercial Litigation<\/a> team.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The Queen\u2019s Bench becomes the King\u2019s Bench, the term \u201cMaster\u201d is phased out, and other changes of note The Alberta Court of Queen\u2019s Bench issued several notices in August and September 2022, announcing important changes to civil practice in the province. Move to King’s Bench Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II passed away peacefully on September […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":100,"featured_media":14399,"parent":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[545],"insight-format":[416],"class_list":["post-6196","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-commercial-litigation"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nKey changes impacting the Courts of Alberta | Miller Thomson<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.millerthomson.com\/en\/insights\/commercial-litigation\/key-changes-alberta-court\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Key changes impacting the Courts of Alberta | Miller Thomson\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"The Queen\u2019s Bench becomes the King\u2019s Bench, the term \u201cMaster\u201d is phased out, and other changes of note The Alberta Court of Queen\u2019s Bench issued several notices in August and September 2022, announcing important changes to civil practice in the province. 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