Justice Minister Helen Conway Ottenheimer called Budget Day “a great day for justice.”
Her department saw some of the biggest funding amounts in this year’s budget – a total of $8.3 million of which is being used to improve the province’s court system.
Nine-million dollars has been earmarked to hire 46 new police officers over the next two years – including 25 RCMP and 21 RNC.
Approximately $2.4 million has been set aside to create new court staff positions and improve court operations, while more than $1 million will be used to create 14 new public prosecution positions – including six new Crown attorneys.
(VOCM News)
Funding is also being provided for digital modernization within the court system.
Another $7 million has been identified for audio-visual modernization in the courts, and a Unified Bail Court will be established with $350,000 to allow judges to hear bail hearings in St. John’s, Stephenville and Grand Falls-Windsor.
Minister Conway Ottenheimer says the courts have been neglected for too long, which is why she convened a working group to address issues in the system.
She says another seven court judges will be hired, and the audio-visual equipment will be used to create the Unified Bail Court.
