Legal Help from Home is a Clicklaw Blog series highlighting free or low-cost resources available during COVID-19.
Public health directives associated with the response to the pandemic have changed accessibility to various services, creating what can be a confusing landscape for anyone needing access to legal resources. To ease confusion and highlight resources available and how to access them, Clicklaw has put together the Covid-19 Resources for British Columbians wikibook and will be featuring legal help and tools in this and other Clicklaw Blog posts. The resources featured in this series provide help beyond finding legal info and are accessible from home or remotely.
Remote resolution: navigating conflict during COVID-19
Mediate BC has launched a Quarantine Conflict Resolution Service that uses distance mediation to resolve conflicts arising from COVID-19, isolation and quarantine. Roster Mediators from around the province have stepped forward to provide reduced-cost mediation services at a distance.
Mediation costs will be determined by client income to support British Columbians during the pandemic.
What kinds of conflict qualify for this service?
This service is offered to residents of British Columbia who are in conflict connected to COVID-19 including:
- Neighbours
- Business Reopening/Workplace/Employees
- Family issues: co-parenting, elder and parent-teen conflicts
- Housing/Roommate Conflicts
Mediate BC has partnered with Landlord BC to address housing and landlord/tenant disputes specifically.
Not-for-profit societies and business parties may also be eligible for low-bono mediation services, as assessed on a case-by-case basis.
Pre-existing conflicts do not qualify for this program. For example, a divorce would not be eligible, but if a divorcing couple needs to continue sharing a home because of COVID-19, negotiating the 6-8 week living situation would fall within the scope of this service.
How does it work?
The mediator will speak with each party individually by phone or video to gather perspectives and the background of the conflict. Then a joint session will be held on a platform that is comfortable for all the parties (Zoom, Facetime, phone, etc.). The mediator will work with all parties involved to find an accessible and comfortable platform to mediate from. No need to be tech-savvy!
Get in contact
For more information about low-fee mediation services from Mediate BC, visit https://www.mediatebc.com/resolving-other-disputes/quarantine.
Find it on Clicklaw: https://www.clicklaw.bc.ca/helpmap/service/1318
Stay informed:
To stay informed on resources available during COVID-19 restrictions, visit Covid-19 Resources for British Columbians.
Find it on Clicklaw: https://www.clicklaw.bc.ca/resource/4725 or use short URL: bit.ly/covid19bc
