MLA Michelle Mungall says British Columbia’s justice system is starving to death because of a severe lack of funding for Provincial Courts. In Yesterday’s Question Period, Mungall asked both the Solicitor General and the Minister of Finance to account for the chronic underfunding and increased cuts in this year’s Budget.
“Is this the standard that the Minister of Finance plans to keep, or will he commit today to properly fund the criminal justice system, clear up the backlog and get B.C. courts working again?” demanded Mungall.
Rather than respond to the question, the Solicitor General and the Minister of Finance deferred to the absent Attorney General.
“I was disappointed in the Minister of Finance. He has responsibility for the Budget, and I asked a budget question. The people of BC deserve better than someone who is so out of touch that he can’t respond to questions on his own budget,” says Mungall.
“Criminal cases have been waiting more than two years to be heard because of case backlog and court delays,” adds Mungall, “ I think about the lack of closure for those involved in these cases that have been thrown out.”
Today a Quadra Island family is feeling the bitter result of a court case being dismissed due to delays. A man charged with shooting and killing the family’s puppy walked out of court today when charges were dropped after the Judge said it was taking too long to bring the case to trial.
Mungall and her NDP colleagues will continue to stand up to protect the people of British Columbia and our justice system.
To view the web clip click here.
Related Story: http://www.cbc.ca/canada/british-columbia/story/2011/02/16/bc-puppy-death-charges-stayed.html
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