Crown attorneys warn of heavy caseloads and vacancies putting the public at risk

The Manitoba Law Courts are seen in Winnipeg on January 10, 2025. The Manitoba Association of Crown Attorneys (MACA) say rising caseloads and staff vacancies could have in impact on public safety, and are calling on the government to help. (Jamie Dowsett/CTV News Winnipeg)

Manitoba’s Crown attorneys are sounding the alarm over rising crime, caseloads and vacancies which they say are putting the public at risk.

According to a press release Friday, The Manitoba Association of Crown Attorneys (MACA) filed a grievance in 2023 citing “dangerously heavy” caseloads amidst rising crime rates and vacancies in the province.

Though the grievance will not be heard until October this year, the association said the government must act now.

“If the government is committed to the administration of justice in this province, we can’t leave this for an arbitrator to figure out. This government has said over and over again they want to be a listening government: it’s time to listen to those on the frontlines of your criminal justice system.” the organization said.

MACA said the impending roll out of body worn camera footage from RCMP will add the time it takes to review “ an unprecedented volume of disclosure to review.”

Disclosure refers to the stages in a court case where prosecutors and defense lawyers review each other’s evidence.

“Cases are getting more complex every day,” said Christian Vanderhooft, president of the association and a Manitoba prosecutor. “We've got much more disclosure to deal with. We have body worn camera evidence coming into the province, and that's going to affect prosecutions from all of our regional offices right into Winnipeg, and it's going to take significant resources.”

Vanderhooft said there are vacancies across the province, experienced lawyers have left for other provinces at higher salaries and the current government needs to do work to fill them to help alleviate the workload.

In a statement, Justice Minister Matt Wiebe said the NDP government is working to add resources to a system they said was underfunded by the previous Progressive Conservative government.

“Since forming government, we have hired more than 30 new Crown attorneys and signed a new deal that significantly improves compensation and will help keep Crowns in the province,” Wiebe said in a statement. “To reduce delays in our courts, we’ve made significant strides in hiring court clerks, reducing vacancies across the province, including by 85 per cent in Winnipeg, since taking office.”