Can B.C.'s clogged court system be saved? While it's not top of mind for most people, a "culture of delay" and underfunding has resulted in impediments that result in some people being let off without a trial.
The BC NDP says it will add a small $10-million boost to legal aid funding over three years to offset cuts in recent years and discourage people from representing themselves, which adds time and effort to cases. The BC Liberals say many efficiencies have already been added to reduce court congestion. Those changes, including the appointment of nine new judges and removal of most drunk driving cases from the courts, has helped to reduce a backlog. For example, according to the BC Liberals' Shirley Bond, only 66 cases were dropped due to delays last year, compared to 100 in 2011.
But the B.C. Crown Counsel Association says that's not good enough and a serious lack of investment is still wreaking havoc on the justice system.
Could B.C. do better? It has to if the justice system is to have any credibility. But as yet, this topic hasn't been an election issue of note.
Perhaps it's time it was.
WHAT DO YOU THINK?
Should the province spend money to make B.C.'s court system run more efficiently so cases aren't delayed? Vote in our online poll.
