Island courthouse closure may lead to lack of access to justice

One of the points of contention in the New Brunswick Liberal government's budget announced on March 31 is the closure of courthouses in St. Stephen, Sussex and Grand Manan. The Saint John Law Courts opened in 2013, and cases from these courts will be heard there beginning in October. The mayors and residents of the three communities have expressed disappointment and objections.
Monthly provincial court sessions have been held in the North Head community hall since the 1980s. The Village of Grand Manan is opposing the closure. Mayor Dennis Greene says, "If you're going to court here, it's half a day. If you're going to Saint John you often have to go the night before." RCMP officers may also have to go the night before, and Greene argues that this will cost the village more for police services. He envisions victims and defendants having to travel on the same ferry crossing and the possibility of "people pleading guilty even when they're innocent" to save future trips to the mainland. "We will be the only region in the regional commission without a courthouse. I feel we're getting pretty close to denying access to justice."
MLA Rick Doucet says the province is facing a $450 million deficit just to maintain the same services and argues that, given their financial resources, the province can't maintain these courtrooms. He says reduction of expenditure was not the driving force, but rather future cost avoidance. The choice was made based on a small volume of cases being absorbed into larger courts, something envisioned when the new Saint John court was built. The North Head hall was not intended to be used as a court; security was an issue, and there can be excessive contact between victims and accused.
"We aren't immune to what's happening globally," he says, referring to economic downturns. "Someone is always affected" by cost‑cutting. He understands that some people may be upset, but "while this may be a major issue on the island," he says he's only heard from one or two islanders.
Doucet supports the rationale and points out that "we want to deliver justice but be cost‑efficient." Scheduling improvements may accommodate travel distances. He says they are looking at the possibility of video‑conferencing for cases in which someone is simply required to make an appearance, while Court of Queen's Bench, family court and small claims are cases in which people already have to go to Saint John. He is optimistic about working out solutions for Grand Manan. "If there's a way we can do it without the building -- lots can happen in the future."
Greene isn't convinced and "doesn't think much" of a video option, saying that most people would prefer to handle such matters face to face. "The judge here knows the lifestyle on Grand Manan," and conducts every session. If people enter a not guilty plea and have to make two or three more trips to Saint John, they may get a different judge each time who isn't familiar with the case. "We might as well throw the village bylaws out," he adds, arguing that it will be too expensive to enforce them in court. "If two RCMP officers go [to Saint John], who's going to cover for them? It may be a saving for the province, but it will be a big expense for the village."
Village officials will send a "strongly worded letter" to the minister of justice, attorney general, Doucet and Premier Brian Gallant. "We hope we can convince them to change their minds," Greene says.