The Government of Newfoundland and Labrador is taking action to improve Provincial Court operations and strengthen access to justice throughout the province.

Following significant work by the Provincial Court Working Group, the Honourable Helen Conway Ottenheimer, Minister of Justice and Public Safety, has received findings and recommendations on the root causes of staffing shortages and systemic pressures affecting Provincial Court operations, as well as potential next steps to be taken in collaboration with the courts to strengthen access to the justice system.

The working group found that the disruptions affecting Provincial Court are the result of pressures that have built over time, including an increase in complex cases requiring more court time and resources, increased workload without a corresponding increase in resources, and persistent staffing shortages and vacancies.

Areas that the working group identified for potential improvement are the recruitment and retention of court staff, which includes sheriff’s officers and court officers, potential infrastructure changes, advancements in the use of technology and improving access to justice throughout the province. Work in these areas will require financial considerations through the budget process and may require legislative changes.

Government and the Provincial Court have already begun taking steps to address immediate pressures in the system. These early actions reflect a shared commitment to improving operations, supporting employees and strengthening service delivery while respecting the independence of the judiciary.

The Provincial Court will remain operational as this work continues. Government will continue working with the Provincial Court to address the causes of these pressures expeditiously and to advance short-, medium- and long-term improvements across the system.

We thank the working group for their efforts. The working group included the following members: Gerrie Smith, Deputy Minister, Department of Justice and Public Safety; Honourable Robin Fowler, Chief Judge of the Provincial Court of Newfoundland and Labrador; Honourable Pamela Goulding, Judge of the Provincial Court of Newfoundland and Labrador; Elaine Price, Labour Relations Specialist, NAPE; Erin Breen, Lawyer, Sullivan Breen Defence; Brandon Gillespie, Senior Crown Attorney, Public Prosecutions Division; Derek Ford, Staff Solicitor, Legal Aid NL.

Improving court operations is part of government’s broader commitment to strengthening public safety and ensuring the justice system is efficient, fair and responsive to the needs of Newfoundlanders and Labradorians. Guided by this commitment, government will make targeted investments in law enforcement and court services, modernize court operations to reduce delays and improve access to justice, and strengthen the overall effectiveness and fairness of the system across the province, for all of us.

Quotes
“Addressing the issues at the courts is a priority for our government. I would like to thank the Provincial Court Working Group for its incredible contribution. I am optimistic that positive changes are underway to improve access to justice in our courts. The disruption of Provincial Court operations did not happen overnight. It was years in the making. The groundwork has now been laid to advance the short-, medium- and long-term initiatives needed to improve timely access to the courts and strengthen the entire justice system for Newfoundlanders and Labradorians.”
Honourable Helen Conway Ottenheimer
Minister of Justice and Public Safety

“The Provincial Court Working Group allowed for constructive and meaningful engagement about the pressures facing the Provincial Court. I welcome the collaborative efforts now underway with the Department of Justice and Public Safety to address these issues while respecting the independence of the judiciary. These initial steps represent important progress toward strengthening court operations and ensuring timely access to justice for the people of Newfoundland and Labrador.”
Honourable Robin Fowler
Chief Judge of the Provincial Court of Newfoundland and Labrador

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BACKGROUNDER

Initiatives Underway to Improve Provincial Court Operations

The Provincial Court Working Group identified several factors contributing to disruptions in Provincial Court operations, including:

• an increase in complex cases requiring more court time and resources;
• increased workload without a corresponding increase in resources; and
• persistent staffing shortages and vacancies.

The working group also identified several areas for potential improvement, including:

• recruitment and retention of employees, including sheriff’s officers and court officers;
• potential infrastructure changes;
• advancements in the use of technology; and
• improving access to justice throughout the province.

These initiatives will require financial consideration through the budget process and may also require legislative changes.

Since the working group was established, the Department of Justice and Public Safety and the Provincial Court have begun several initiatives to address issues in the court system, including:

• implementation of Virtual Civil Court as of February 27 to conduct pre-trial settlements and determine the best means of moving matters forward;
• implementation of Virtual Bail Court as of March 2, with St. John’s covering bail matters virtually for Stephenville and Grand Falls-Windsor;
• enhanced recruitment efforts to streamline hiring and better address the needs of court locations and prospective employees throughout Newfoundland and Labrador;
• The Supreme Court has offered to share courtroom space to assist the Provincial Court in the short term. Any such arrangements are being considered between the Courts consistent with their respective independence, and are intended to support the continued, effective administration of justice for the people of the Province; and
• the assignment of an Assistant Deputy Minister within the Department of Justice and Public Safety with responsibility for divisions that work within the court system, including courts, sheriff’s officers, probation officers and victim services.