The mayor of St. John’s says provincial court closures are having a “significant impact” on the city.

Two weeks ago all civil and traffic court cases were adjourned, and circuit courts in Baie Verte and Port aux Basques were suspended due to what government has called staffing issues.

Last week, justice minister Helen Conway Ottenheimer announced the creation of a working group to address what she calls systemic issues in the court system.

Danny Breen says people have not been able to contest parking tickets in St. John’s since September, and those tickets in the system could have an impact of “tens of thousands of dollars” on the city.

Breen says the situation also impacts property inspections.

(He says if they need access to a home for an inspection, and they can’t get permission from the owner, then their only recourse is to go to court – an option which they don’t have right now. As well, if there is an issue about a property that cannot be agreed upon, then the city has to go to court to get the right to enforce the rules.)

Breen says he is encouraged by the steps the province is taking and hopes there will be a resolution soon.