The opposition is concerned that staffing issues in the court system could jeopardize cases under the Jordan ruling by causing added delays.

The trial of Dean Penney, accused of first degree murder in the disappearance of his estranged wife Jennifer Hillier Penney in 2016, was postponed earlier this week because sheriff’s officers were not available.

Justice Minister Helen Conway Ottenheimer says she’s been assured by the High Sheriff that there is enough staffing in Corner Brook to ensure that the trial goes ahead, but Opposition Leader John Hogan is concerned that the issue is bigger than that.

He cited reports that Justice Vikas Khaladkar called on the minister to take immediate action to remedy the issue.

“Potentially here we are now today with a very serious criminal matter being postponed. And a judge, I think that’s pretty rare to comment specifically to the department and to the government that they need to step in and fix this as soon as possible,” he told reporters.

“It is very serious. It doesn’t really get more serious than this sort of trial as well, and we really hope that the solutions that are put forward can be implemented today.”