In what circumstances will arbitration awards obtained in other
Canadian jurisdictions be enforced in British Columbia? That was
the question before the British Columbia Supreme Court in
Zonruiter v. Matthews, 2020 BCSC 568.
In this case, the Court dismissed the claimant's application
to enforce the Alberta arbitrator's costs awards in British
Columbia. Instead, the claimant needed to follow the usual two-step
process of first obtaining a judgment in Alberta and then enforcing
it in British Columbia pursuant to the Court Order Enforcement
Act, R.S.B.C. 1996, c. 78 (the
"COEA").
Background Facts
This case involved a family law dispute and related legal
proceedings in Alberta and British Columbia. The claimant and
respondent were married in September 2013, and separated in
December 2015. They have one child together. The parties lived in
Lloydminster, Alberta. Following their separation, the claimant
moved with the child to British Columbia. The respondent
