Province pegs renos to Thompson court office at $10M

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This article was published 04/06/2019 (2702 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Promised renovations to Manitoba’s northernmost court office are expected to cost the province about $10 million, Justice Minister Cliff Cullen says.

During a visit Tuesday to Thompson, Cullen announced plans to upgrade the existing basement court office, including adding an additional courtroom, more administrative space, a separate spot for victims and child witnesses, a judges’ chamber and more holding cells.

The renovations have been in the works for several years, and are expected to begin within the next two years, Cullen told the Free Press during a brief phone call.

“We’re hoping to start construction in 12 to 24 months,” he said, saying the plans are subject to final approval by the Treasury Board.

“Money has been allocated, we just want to finalize the drawings,” Cullen added.

The announcement comes after the Free Press published a three-part series exploring a chronic lack of resources within the Thompson courthouse, and barriers to accessing justice for people who live in northern and remote areas in Manitoba.

The series explored concerns that have been raised repeatedly by northern residents — dating back nearly 30 years to the Aboriginal Justice Inquiry — including a lack of timely bail hearings, court delays, exorbitant travel costs, and a lack of restorative justice options.

The inquiry recommended widespread changes to how criminal courts run in the North, but most of those recommendations haven’t been implemented.

Cullen said the planned renovations show the government is making progress. The renovation work will be phased in and isn’t expected to affect court operations, he said.

“This will speed up access to justice for northern Manitobans,” he said, adding there are “a lot of things in the works” in that respect.

In a news release issued Tuesday, the justice department also announced it plans to strengthen security measures at the court office. Provincial funding for the City of Thompson and RCMP to develop a public safety plan was previously announced, along with additional court clerk positions and plans to expand restorative justice programs in the North.

Thompson defence lawyer Serena Puranen, who has been working in the city for nine years, said renovations have long been promised for the court office in the basement of the provincial building.

“I’m in favour of all the proposed renovations, but do hope they also include adequate interview rooms for counsel, and a proper robing room for counsel,” she said Tuesday. “And also hope that accommodations are made to ensure the renovations don’t increase the backlog in court sittings.”

Thompson is the largest city in northern Manitoba, and is the only permanent court location for people who live in the northernmost part of the province. Its judges and court staff are responsible for running temporary circuit courts in 13 smaller communities as far north as Churchill.

Most people arrested and held in police custody north of the city have to be brought into the Thompson court before they can apply for bail. Despite having the right to a timely bail hearing, many wait days or weeks.

Bail court in Thompson runs only 2 1/2 days a week and the volume of cases is too high for the under-resourced court office to handle.

The Canadian Civil Liberties Association previously told the Free Press it plans to launch legal challenges against what it calls the “unconstitutional design” of northern courts in Manitoba and other provinces.

katie.may@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @thatkatiemay