ELUC Meeting Minutes - September 22, 2021

ESTATES LIST USERS COMMITTEE

DATE:                                    Wednesday, September 22, 2021

TIME:                                     4:30 p.m.

PLACE:                                  Zoom Video Conference

PRESENT:                             The Honourable Justice McEwen (Chair)

                                               The Honourable Justice Dietrich

                                               Laura Craig

                                               Gillian Fournie (OBA)

                                               Matthew Furrow (OBA)

                                               Bosco Mascarenhas

                                               Kendra Naidoo

                                               Daniel Paperny

                                               Margaret Rintoul

                                               Marshall Swadron

                                               Barbara Walker-Renshaw

                                               Marni Whitaker (minute taker)

1.            Approval of June 16, 2021 Meeting Minutes

Minutes of the prior meeting were reviewed and approved. 

2.            Matters Arising Since the Last Meeting

(a)          Team Lead for Estates

Justice McEwen reported that he has decided to step down from acting as Team Lead for Estates after holding that position for six years.  The Regional Senior Justice appointed Justice Dietrich as the new Team Lead and Justice Dietrich has agreed to accept the appointment.  Accordingly, as of November 1,  the new Team Lead for Estates will be Justice Dietrich.  Justice McEwen thanked all committee members for their work and in particular thanked Bibi Minoo for her administrative work on the committee.  The committee expressed their appreciation for his leadership of the committee. 

(b)          Website for probate issued in the United Kingdom

A committee member reported that it was now possible to perform free online searches of probates issued in the United Kingdom and to obtain a copy of issued probates, including a copy of the will of the deceased person, for a nominal fee and asked whether such a website was under consideration for Ontario.  No one was aware that such a website was under consideration but several committee members agreed that it would be worthwhile.

(c)           Concerns Regarding Internet Access in Court Rooms

Justice McEwen reported that Judges at the courthouse at 361 University Avenue had noticed that there was a problem with the freezing of computer screens relating to a lack of available bandwidth.  He asked if anyone had noticed this in hearings.  A committee member obtained information from a lawyer not on the committee that the public Wi-Fi in a courtroom at 330 University Avenue was not functioning on September 22 and that it had been necessary for counsel to hot spot to their cell phones.  Justice McEwen indicated that work had been done on the Wi-Fi at 361 University Avenue and at Osgoode Hall for four years but it appeared there was still a concern that it was inadequate.