Seventy per cent of the claims referred to the project have been successfully resolved. An evaluation of the program was released in August 1999. The Civil Claims Mediation Program in Calgary, which began in September 1998, became a permanent program in September 1999. The programs provide mediation as an alternative to court proceedings. Seventy per cent of the claims referred to the program have been successfully resolved.
Plans are to continue the program on a permanent basis.
Judges will work with parties and their counsel to move cases through to completion in a timely and cost effective way. The pilot project requires significant investment in new information technology. The Management Information System is being studied. This system may create the basis for electronic filing in the future. It provides mediation in child welfare cases and also in custody, access and maintenance cases to parties who meet its income qualifications.