Supreme Court Rules 1987

(1) Subject to this Order, with the permission of a Judge or an Associate Judge, a party may attend a hearing or conference by videoconference or teleconference wherever the hearing is to take place.

(2) A Judge or an Associate Judge may take evidence from witnesses who take the oath as witnesses at a hearing or conference attended by a party under subrule (1) and may exercise the same powers in relation to the parties and the witnesses as if the parties and the witnesses were physically in the presence of the Judge or Associate Judge.

(3) A party intending to attend a hearing or conference under subrule (1) must, at least 24 hours before the time set for the hearing, seek the permission of the Judge or Associate Judge required by that subrule.

(4) Permission to attend a hearing or conference under subrule (1) may be granted without formality by telephone and without notice to the other parties.

(5) A party who has been granted permission to attend a hearing or conference under subrule (1):

(a) must give notice to the other parties of the party's intention to attend the hearing or conference under subrule (1) as a Judge or an Associate Judge directs; and

(b) unless a Judge or an Associate Judge directs otherwise, must provide and meet the expenses of the facilities necessary to enable the hearing or conference to be held by videoconference or teleconference.

(6) A Judge or an Associate Judge may:

(a) on the Judge or Associate Judge's own motion, conduct a hearing or conference by videoconference or teleconference; and

(b) for that purpose, give the directions the Judge or Associate Judge thinks fit.

hearing or conference means a directions hearing, a listing hearing, a case management conference or a settlement conference.