By Canadian Press

Hundreds of cases postponed over shortage of judges in Quebec’s Nunavik region

Jul 19, 2022 | 12:53 PM

MONTREAL — Quebec provincial court has cancelled an entire week of hearings due to a lack of judges in the province’s northern region of Nunavik. 

The Justice Department says about 250 cases were postponed this week in Kuujjuaq, one of the region’s 14 Indigenous communities, because no judges were available to travel with the itinerant court.

The court of Quebec has about 319 judges, with another 61 retired judges allowed to fill in, but none of them are permanently based in Nunavik.

Sarah Plamondon, who represents northern Quebec in the provincial association of defence lawyers, says the consequences are dire for both the accused facing delays and victims who might start to lose trust in the judicial system.

She says some cases will have to waitover a year for a new court date, which could push them past the limit set in the Supreme Court’s Jordan ruling and result in charges being dropped.

IN THE COMMUNITY

Medicine Hat's Adopt-A-Rink program still seeking volunteers

7h ago

HOLIDAYS

Medicine Hat Kiwanis hosting Christmas dinner

Dec 06, 2024

IN THE COMMUNITY

CHAT News producer makes 'emotional' return to Medicine Hat's old arena

Dec 06, 2024

In that 2016 decision, the high court said provincial court trials should finish within 18 months of the person being charged.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published on July 19, 2022.

—

This story was produced with the financial assistance of the Meta and Canadian Press News Fellowship.

The Canadian Press