556. The parties must favour mediation and arbitration to settle their dispute.
To that end, the court clerk informs them at the earliest opportunity that they may, at no additional cost, submit their dispute to a certified mediator. However, in the districts determined by the Minister and according to the terms and conditions prescribed by the Government in accordance with article 570, the court clerk submits the dispute to such mediation before the matter can be heard by the court. The mediator files a report with the court office on the mediation conducted.
If the parties reach a settlement, they file with the court office either a notice that the case has been settled or the signed settlement agreement. A settlement agreement confirmed by the special clerk or the court is equivalent to a judgment.
If the parties do not reach a settlement, the court clerk, in the districts determined by the Minister and according to the terms and conditions prescribed by the Government in accordance with article 570, offers them arbitration, at no additional cost, by a certified arbitrator.
The arbitration award is public. The arbitrator sends it to the parties and files it with the court office.
2014, c. 1, a. 556; 2023, c. 32023, c. 3, s. 141; 2024, c. 72024, c. 7, s. 1011.