In an appearance before the Senate Committee on Legal and Constitutional Affairs on Feb. 16, 2016, the CBA’s Criminal Justice Section welcomed the opportunity to offer its expertise regarding delays in the criminal justice system.
The CBA recommends changes in several key areas including disclosure, increased funding for legal aid, better estimates of court time needed at the outset, and encouraging out-of-court early settlement. The Section offered to provide the Senators further feedback from its national membership as to what initiatives have proven most successful in their respective regions.
The CBA urges a cautious approach when considering changes to fundamental concepts of criminal law. “Complex and often interrelated issues are at play and an adjustment that may seem uncontroversial can have unanticipated ripple effects in other areas of the system,” says the CBA letter.
Criminal Justice Section members Ian Carter of Ottawa and Tony Paisana of Vancouver (via videoconference) appeared before the committee.