The Justice Review Task Force (JRTF) was established at the instigation of the Law Society of BC, in March 2002, the current members of the JRTF are Chief Justice Donald Brenner of the Supreme Court of British Columbia, Chief Judge Carol Baird Ellan of the Provincial Court of British Columbia, Deputy Attorney General Allan Seckel QC, Assistant Deputy Minister, Justice Services, Jerry McHale QC, Peter Leask QC of the Canadian Bar Association and Richard Margettes QC of the Law Society of British Columbia. The objective of the JRTF is to identify a wide range of potential reform initiatives that may help make the justice system become more responsive, accessible and cost-effective. The Task Force is now identifying those areas of the criminal justice system which it wishes to explore as a matter of priority.

As it has explored various reforms in more detail, the Task Force has been mindful of the importance of benefiting from the expertise, and gaining the support, of those who participate in the justice system, not just those represented on the committee. To that end, the following principles have guided, and will continue to guide, Task Force work:

• Those with a significant interest in the issue being explored should be involved in the process;

• Involvement should be meaningful. Those who are interested in being involved in the discussions should have access to relevant information and the opportunity to participate effectively throughout the further development and implementation of any reform initiative;

• The process for development of the reforms should be flexible. How a plan is developed may vary with each initiative;

• The people involved in designing the plan may be as important as the design itself. Plans for the development of a particular reform idea should be designed with, not for, those who use or are affected by them.