More Crown prosecutors needed — now

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This article was published 09/09/2025 (244 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Manitoba’s justice system is facing a problem that cannot be wished away or endlessly pinned on the past. The province does not have enough Crown prosecutors, and the consequences are becoming too severe to ignore.

The Manitoba Association of Crown Attorneys has filed a formal grievance, saying the office requires at least 20 per cent more prosecutors to keep up with the rising number of criminal cases and the increasing complexity of prosecutions.

That is not a small adjustment. It represents a fundamental shortfall in the staffing needed to keep the system functioning effectively.

Manitoba has one of the highest violent crime rates in Canada. Police and courts are grappling with firearms offences, organized crime, large-scale fraud, repeat offenders, sexual assaults and ongoing bail applications.

Each case requires significant preparation, including lengthy disclosure, research and time in court.

Add to that the Supreme Court of Canada’s 2016 Jordan ruling, which sets strict deadlines for trials, and the stakes become even higher.

When the system cannot process cases within those prescribe timelines, charges are often stayed and alleged offenders are released without trial. Justice delayed becomes justice denied.

The NDP government, now nearly two years into its mandate, continues to point to the record of the previous Progressive Conservative administration. There is no doubt the PCs underfunded the Crown’s office and left it with long-standing recruitment and retention issues.

But blame only goes so far. After two years in power, the government of the day owns the problem and the responsibility for fixing it.

Attorney General Matt Wiebe has said the province is trying to fill vacancies. That effort is welcome, but it does not address the deeper issue. Even if every current position were filled, the association says there would still not be enough prosecutors to meet the growing workload. Manitoba needs more positions, not just warm bodies in the existing ones.

The NDP has spoken frequently about its commitment to safer communities. It has announced more funding for police and has supported federal efforts to tighten bail laws.

But those measures mean little if there are not enough prosecutors to move cases through the courts in a timely manner.

Without an adequately staffed Crown’s office, government promises to crack down on violent repeat offenders are little more than political slogans.

The Crown attorneys association has been explicit: a 20 per cent increase in staffing is needed.

That requires political will, long-term investment and a recognition that prosecutors are not optional extras in the justice system. They are essential.

The government must create new permanent positions, ensure salaries are competitive enough to attract and retain qualified lawyers and provide the resources needed to handle complex cases properly.

The cost of inaction is far greater than the cost of investment. Failing to fund the Crown’s office means risking collapsed trials, emboldened criminals and disillusioned victims. It means communities losing confidence in the courts’ ability to protect them. Ultimately, it means eroding the very rule of law.

Premier Wab Kinew’s government promised change and public safety was central to its campaign. That promise rings hollow if the Crown’s office remains chronically understaffed.

The justice system cannot function without prosecutors. Manitoba cannot claim to be serious about fighting crime while its Crown attorneys are overwhelmed and under-resourced.

Two years into its mandate, this government must move beyond blaming its predecessor. The public expects more than excuses. It expects results. The health of Manitoba’s justice system, and the safety of its communities, depend on it.