It’s not housing or family doctors, but Ottawa seems to have corrected one of Canada’s critical shortages.
What happened: Following a judicial appointment spree in recent weeks, the number of vacancies on Canada’s top courts sits at just 13, its lowest level on record. Facing calls to address a chronic shortage of judges, the feds have added 234 judges since mid-2023.
Catch-up: The number of vacancies hit a record high of 92 in early 2023, prompting Supreme Court Chief Justice Richard Wagner to write a letter to the feds warning them that their slow appointment process had created an “untenable and appalling crisis.”
Why it matters: A full slate of judges clears a major hurdle that has hampered Canada’s judicial system for years and led to hundreds of criminal cases — including those involving gun charges, sexual assaults, and human trafficking — to be thrown out.
- In Alberta, nearly a quarter of criminal cases exceeded that 30-month window, and more than 90% of those cases involved crimes considered “serious and violent.”
Yes, but: It’s not just judges; the underfunding of court services has also been slowing down the legal system. The federal Courts Administration Service, a body that facilitates crucial administrative work for the courts, is currently facing a ~$35 million budget shortfall — a problem that’s now forcing some federal courts to consider cutting hearings.—LA