Sask. aims to cut court delays with new hires, tech upgrades

Saskatchewan wants to reduce court backlogs by hiring more staff and modernizing court systems. Laura Woodward reports.

Saskatchewan wants to reduce court backlogs by hiring more staff and modernizing court systems.

The province is allocating $269 million to the Ministry of Justice this year — about $2 million less than last year, a drop of nearly one per cent.

The funding shift comes as some criminal cases take years to reach a verdict. Most notably, an impaired driving case involving the death of a nine-year-old girl was stayed due to delays.

The “Jordan ceiling,” set by the Supreme Court of Canada, requires criminal cases to be completed within a specific time frame — or they can be stayed.

“That means the proceedings halt. There will be no decision,” said Colton Fehr, an assistant professor at the University of Saskatchewan College of Law.

Fehr said the justice system depends on multiple players working together. When one part falls behind, delays can persist.

“So when one actor — Legal Aid, in particular — seems to be significantly underfunded year after year, that will prevent them from being able to speed up their processes,” Fehr said.

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Despite the slight funding decrease, Justice Minister Tim McLeod said improvements are coming to Saskatchewan courts.

“I’m quite excited that we’re able to continue to address the capacity pressures on our court system,” McLeod said.

McLeod said the case management system at King’s Bench will be modernized to allow for electronic filing, and the province is adding:

• three provincial court judges
• four Court of King’s Bench associate judges
• six justices of the peace
• two Crown prosecutors focused on complex cases

Jessie Buydens with the Canadian Bar Association, Saskatchewan branch said there are “lots of positives” in the budget.

“I would have liked to see a corresponding increase in Legal Aid staff positions — they’re equally strapped for resources, but overall I think it’s good,” Buydens told CTV News, when asked about the budget.

The Saskatchewan Trial Lawyers Association said it supports the new appointments, and plans to monitor “outcomes to ensure the justice system continues to deliver timely and meaningful access for all Saskatchewan residents.”

Notable court delays in Saskatoon

Greg Fertuck (first-degree murder)

Charged June 28, 2019 — sentenced July 4, 2024

Time to sentence: five years, six days

Roderick Sutherland (manslaughter)

Charged June 1, 2022 — sentenced Oct. 17, 2025

Time to sentence: three years, four months, 16 days

Andrew Rosenfeldt (second-degree murder)

Charged Nov. 15, 2022 — acquitted Jan. 30, 2026

Time to verdict: three years, two months, 15 days

Nader Butter (manslaughter)

Charged Jan. 30, 2023 — sentenced July 22, 2025

Time to sentence: two years, five months, 22 days

John Olubobokun (assault with a weapon)

Charged June 22, 2023 — sentenced Dec. 4, 2025

Time to sentence: two years, five months, 12 days

Evan Hardy Collegiate student (attempted murder)

Charged Sept. 5, 2024 — sentenced March 16, 2026

Time to sentence: one year, six months, 11 days