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"Our court system is being starved by the government and justice will suffer." - Dean Purdy, chair, BCGEU/NUPGE corrections and sheriff services component.
Vancouver (5 July 2011) - Funding problems in B.C. courts are outlined in a May 31 letter sent to the chief judges of the three different courts in British Columbia by Rob Wood, assistant deputy minister of court services. The letter was obtained and made public by the British Columbia Government and Service Employees' Union (BCGEU/NUPGE).
"Unfortunately, the letter outlines the many problems we have had in providing proper security in the courts," said Dean Purdy, chair of the union's corrections and sheriff services component. "It is no wonder we have had problems staffing courts and that court registry staff and others are concerned."
The BCGEU/NUPGE has been raising concerns about the lack of sheriffs to provide security in the courts for months. A number of trials were suspended by judges when a sheriff wasn't available to provide security. Lawyers and others have also expressed concern.
"We are pleased the Attorney General was able to reinstate the hours for sheriffs in the Lower Mainland, but this was only one step to solving the problem. More sheriffs need to be hired," said Purdy. "We have been informed the hours will be reviewed week by week. We need these positions to become permanent."
The letter from Wood warned judges what some of the financial problems are with the government's Court Services Branch (CSB). "These fiscal changes have made it progressively more difficult to maintain operational levels in both court security and court administration," Wood wrote.
He goes on to say that even with the cuts that were made, it is expected that the ministry will go over budget.
"The information in the letter is very revealing," said Purdy. "It points out what kind of mess the government has gotten into. Around 100 sheriff positions have been eliminated since 2008/2009. Our court system is being starved by the government and justice will suffer."
The letter also says that "there may be occasions, this fiscal year at least, on which CSB will not be able to provide to the courts levels of service that CSB would wish to provide."
"Sheriffs and other court staff will do what is needed to help the system work, but the government must provide adequate levels of security. We cannot do justice on the cheap," said Purdy.
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The National Union of Public and General Employees (NUPGE) is one of Canada's largest labour organizations with over 340,000 members. Our mission is to improve the lives of working families and to build a stronger Canada by ensuring our common wealth is used for the common good. NUPGE