Premier Tony Wakeham says the number of cases being thrown out in the court system due to Jordan applications is “unacceptable.”
Yesterday, CBC Investigates published a report indicating that in the last 18 months at least 24 cases have been dropped because they exceeded Jordan timelines, many of which included serious offences such as sexual assault.
Wakeham says that is “clearly not acceptable.”
He says “none of us” want to see those kinds of delays in the justice system.
“We have to do better. There’s no other thing to say than that. I cannot make excuses. I simply say, we have to do better.”
(VOCM News)
Wakeham, noting that the justice minister is working hard on that file, says work is ongoing to try to improve conditions in the court system.
Meanwhile, the issue was brought to the floor of the House of Assembly yesterday by NDP MHA Sheilagh O’Leary.
O’Leary asked if government will put the proper supports in place so that cases aren’t dropped.
Justice Minister Helen Conway Ottenheimer says they recognize the impact of Jordan cases on the justice system. She says several initiatives – including hiring more public prosecution staff and digital modernization of the court system – are ways that they are addressing the situation.
