In our office we’ve made our predictions on the IRP appeal. We have ideas on what we think should happen, and what we think will happen. We were surprised when the lawyers opposing the IRP scheme abandoned some arguments. Nevertheless, we’ve made our predictions and now we’ve stopped taking bets. The IRP appeal is underway.
We have a good track record on predicting the future. Still, we’re keeping our predictions in sealed envelopes in a safe buried 30 meters under our office. There’s no point now in trying to guess what the decision will be. And one way or another, it may be inconsequential in some respects for most people who received an IRP before November 30, 2011, because most people served their entire 90-day more than a year ago.
Still, we will make the following predictions:
- The lawyers who are arguing the IRP appeal for both sides will do their best to explain why they take the position that, in law, their argument should prevail.
- The judges on the Court of Appeal will do their best to give a reasoned decision explaining why they arrive at the decision they do.
We may agree or disagree with the decision of the Court. Still, it’s important to remember that the lawyers and judges assigned the task of sorting this out will do their best to fulfill their duty to the people of British Columbia by fulfilling their duty to follow the law.
Of course, no one is taking bets. But it can’t hurt to cross your fingers.