B.C. prosecutors file workload grievance over staff shortages, citing court delays

The Canadian Press

· Posted: May 23, 2025 3:04 PM EDT | Last Updated: 12 hours ago

The B.C. Crown Counsel Association says it has filed a ceremonial workload grievance against the B.C. Prosecution Service implicit what it calls "inadequate staffing" successful its Okanagan and Kootenay offices.

The relation representing 550 Crown prosecutors across B.C. says that portion staffing and assets shortages interaction each of its lawyers, issues successful Vernon, Kelowna, Penticton, Nelson and Cranbrook are "particularly acute."

It says the prosecution work has continuously breached its corporate statement with respect to managing staffing levels.

The relation says that paired with an expanding workload successful those increasing communities, the contented is harming prosecutors' quality to hole and bring cases to tribunal successful a timely manner.

It says it is present seeking an arbitrator's declaration that the leader has breached the declaration and indispensable conscionable its contractual obligations by hiring much staff.

Adam Dalrymple, president of the B.C. Crown Counsel Association, says the portion needs 20 much Crown counsel to grip the existent workload, representing a 25 per cent increase.

"Our occupation is to uphold the regularisation of instrumentality in B.C. and support the nationalist harmless to the precise champion of our ability," helium says successful a quality release.

"However, the workload is excessive, and a shortage of Crown Counsel threatens our quality to bring cases to tribunal connected time."

Dalrymple says the conditions are besides causing burnout among its members.

"These moving conditions impact our quality to pull and clasp much Crown Counsel," helium said.

CBC News has contacted the B.C. Prosecution Service for comment.