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Shortage of prosecutors: towards abandoning prosecutions
Crown prosecutors fear the worst in the face of the crisis which is slowing down the functioning of the criminal justice system in New Brunswick. Calls for help have been made for two weeks. Me Yves Duguay, Vice-President of the New Brunswick Association of Crown Prosecutors and prosecutor in Bathurst, admits that the situation has been worrying for a while.
[ ...More ]Publication date : 2024-03-27
B.C. prosecutors’ association raises security concerns about Vancouver courthouse following assault
The association that represents B.C.’s roughly 450 Crown prosecutors is raising safety concerns around an East Vancouver courthouse after a member was allegedly assaulted outside last week. "We’re reeling, this has really shaken us to the core to have one of our own attacked right here,” said BCCCA president Adam Dalrymple.
[ ...More ]Publication date : 2024-02-05
Increased number of homicides doesn’t bode well for overworked N.L. prosecutors, association says
There are 17 homicide cases before the courts in Newfoundland and Labrador, and the head of the association that represents local prosecutors says the higher-than-normal caseload will be difficult to handle.
[ ...More ]Publication date : 2023-09-07
Manitoba adds 25 Crown attorneys to prosecution service amid workload issues
The Manitoba government hopes to add about two dozen more prosecutors and assistants to the prosecution service, which attorneys say has been struggling to keep up amid workload and workforce issues. Manitoba Association of Crown Attorneys says province left group out of discussions.
[ ...More ]Publication date : 2023-06-26
Les Leyne: Premier David Eby takes on lawyers — again
The B.C. NDP government has introduced a one-page bill that bestows the right to join a union on the 350 lawyers who work for government. There’s a catch. It herds them into a union the government prefers, the Professional Employees Association, rather than allowing them to form their own.
[ ...More ]Publication date : 2023-05-06
‘Unfair labour practice’: B.C. government accused of blocking union bid by its own lawyers
Lawyers for the B.C. government say the province has ended negotiations with them ahead of legislation they claim aims to block their right to form their own union.
[ ...More ]Publication date : 2023-05-04
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N.S. government to return to talks with Crowns, as controversial law paused
25-10-2019
Crown attorneys continue their protest outside the legislature in Halifax on Friday, Oct. 25, 2019. Most of the province’s Crown attorneys walked off the job on Wednesday in response to the province introducing legislation that would take away their right to arbitration. The provincial government is seeking an injunction in Nova Scotia Supreme Court that would force the Crowns back to the courtroom. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Andrew Vaughan
HALIFAX — Nova Scotia's Liberal government today held off on enacting legislation that would have forced striking Crowns back to work, promising to return to the negotiating table next week.
Bill 203 passed into law late in the day, but Justice Minister Mark Furey says it isn't being proclaimed and the province will resume talks early in the week in hopes of resolving the wage dispute.
The minister says he believes the parties can "work towards a negotiated settlement," though a day earlier he'd accused prosecutors of putting their personal financial interests ahead of the needs of crime victims.
The legislation removes a negotiated right to binding arbitration the province had agreed to in 2016. In its place, it allows Crowns the right to strike so long as essential services are provided.
The Nova Scotia Crown Attorneys' Association says the law would strip them of all negotiating power, as all prosecutors are likely to be considered essential workers.
Perry Borden, the president of the association, said his union is expecting good faith negotiations.
This report by the Canadian Press was first published Oct. 25, 2019.
