B.C.’s justice minister is defending the province’s plan to overhaul the justice system overhaul and the fact it comes with no new cash.
Critics have said why bother with a new scheduling system when there aren’t enough judges to hear cases.
Bond says it’s better to evaluate how efficiently they can spend the $ 1 billion already invested annually into the justice system, rather than adding more money.
“We have one of the lowest crime rates in the history of British Columbia, and we have fewer cases going to courtrooms today.”
While the crime rate may indeed be lower, lawyer Geoff Cowper’s report into the backlogged system says 2,500 cases have been waiting more than 14 months for trial.
Bond made the comments after announcing that the B.C. government and the Canadian Red Cross Society will better co-ordinate responses to a potential major disaster, such as an earthquake.
The partnership includes no new money, however, and the Red Cross emergency response units discussed at the announcement were already in place.
Bond was also asked to comment on a handful of Lower Mainland mayors alternatives to B.C.’s current RCMP contract.
She says municipalities have the right to opt out of the recently signed contract, but she’d rather those mayors chat with the provincial government first.
“To those mayors, I even encourage them to have a discussion with us, to talk to us, about the kinds of changes they’d like to see made. And I’m happy to have those discussions with those municipal leaders who are contemplating another policing option.”
Municipalities must give two years’ notice to opt out.
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