Opposition justice critic Pam Parsons calls recent abrupt changes to the provincial court system an erosion in access to justice that requires greater transparency.
The justice minister yesterday announced the creation of a working group to address what she calls systemic issues in the province’s court system.
NAPE President Jerry Earle believes recruitment and retention is at the heart of the recent adjournment of civil and traffic court matters as well as the suspension of circuit court in Baie Verte and Port aux Basques.
Parsons says the most recent budget included $3.4 million to bolster staffing in the justice system.
She says money was allocated to hire six Crown attorneys, 14 new deputy sheriffs and a manager of court security in Labrador, as well as 32 new correctional officers.
“With a number of those services moved abruptly, I didn’t get an explanation as to why that’s happening, but we need to know…what is the plan, what is the interim plan?”
Shielagh O’Leary speaks with reporters at Confederation Building (VOCM News)
NDP wants to know why frontline workers are not in working group
The NDP is raising concerns after sheriff officers were not included on the working group formed to address staffing shortages and inefficiencies within the court system.
Helen Conway Ottenheimer announced the formation of the working group which includes judges, lawyers and government officials.
The NDP’s Sheilagh O’Leary is also concerned about how long the process will take. The working group is slated to report back in mid-February.
“We need to know a little bit more definitively who’s going to be at that table, are unions going to be represented? And also what’s going to happen to those individuals that are going to be in the waiting game for an extended period of time?” she asked.
