“The NDP's inaction and mismanagement have led to a profound miscarriage of justice. It is unacceptable that a child's quest for justice is thwarted by bureaucratic delays and a lack of resources. We demand immediate action to rectify these failures and restore confidence in our judicial system” - John Rustad, Leader of the Conservative Party of British Columbia
July 24, Vancouver, BC: The Conservative Party of British Columbia is outraged by the recent news that charges have been stayed against a man accused of sexually assaulting a six-year-old girl. The charges were dropped due to significant court delays, highlighting a severe failure in the administration of justice under David Eby's leadership.
In a scathing ruling, Victoria provincial court Judge Mayland McKimm found that "unacceptable" delays, including problems scheduling a semi-retired judge, pushed the trial beyond the 18-month limit set by the Supreme Court of Canada. The delays resulted in the stay of charges against the accused, despite the severity of the allegations.
John Rustad, Leader of the Conservative Party of British Columbia, expressed deep concern: "Ensuring our courts run smoothly is a provincial responsibility - one that David Eby has failed at. The administration of justice in British Columbia is in shambles, and this recent case is a devastating example of the consequences."
The Conservative Party of British Columbia emphasizes that while laws are written in Ottawa, the administration of justice is a provincial responsibility. The failure to provide enough Crown prosecutors, Sheriffs, and Judges is a clear dereliction of duty by the current provincial government.
In 2016, the Supreme Court of Canada, through R. v Jordan, clearly defined the Charter right to a speedy trial. However, despite this landmark ruling, the NDP government has failed to allocate the necessary resources to uphold these rights and ensure that justice is served.
Judge McKimm's decision, issued in May but only recently made public, predicts the collapse of more cases due to a "court scheduling model that fails to accommodate trials that run on longer than anticipated." The case involved the alleged sexual assault of a young child, which should have been given the highest priority.
Elenore Sturko, MLA for Surrey-South and Conservative Party of British Columbia candidate in Surrey-Cloverdale, added, "It's a mismanagement of time and resources. Here we have someone accused of molesting a child, who now won't be held accountable. This failure is a stark reminder of the urgent need for reform in our justice system."
Rustad continued, "The NDP's inaction and mismanagement have led to a profound miscarriage of justice. It is unacceptable that a child's quest for justice is thwarted by bureaucratic delays and a lack of resources. We demand immediate action to rectify these failures and restore confidence in our judicial system."
The Conservative Party of British Columbia calls for urgent measures to address the resource shortages in the provincial court system and ensure that such tragic failures do not happen again. Justice must be served, and the rights of victims must be protected.
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