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VANCOUVER — Public confidence in Canada's justice system is at an “all-time low,” B.C.'s Attorney-General says, adding judges need to start paying more attention to how the public feels.
Wally Oppal, a former B.C. Appeal Court judge, said in a year-end interview that Canada's justice system is seen as a model for the world.
But Canadians don't see it that way.
“The rate of confidence, or public confidence in the system is at an all-time low, and I think everybody in the system has be cognizant of that fact,” he said.
“We have to start working towards more confidence in the system, and that means everyone who's involved, including the courts.”
Mr. Oppal noted long delays in court proceedings and incidents of judges handing suspended sentences to offenders who have 15 to 20 prior convictions as part of the public relations problem.
“It takes us forever to get matters done,” he said.
“I think we have to get moving and some of the sentences have to reflect public mores and public standards. I think judges have to be cognizant of what the public thinks of their sentencing process.”
More to come
