Only days after RCMP Corporal Darren Baker dodged a drunk driving charge on a technicality, the man in charge of B.C. courts says reform is coming.
B.C. Attorney General Wally Oppal says there's a big problem in the system.
"We take forever to get our cases done," he says. "There's enough blame coming for everyone to share. All of us in the system need to look at ourselves."
Oppal says his ministry is working on an overhaul, but admits its not easy.
"We are met with resistance from a lot of lawyers," he says.
CTV asked Oppal if there is an opportunity to force change.
"We can. But it is always better to get a consensus, because everybody needs to work in the system together."
The police union concurs that consensus is required, but enough is enough.
"We need to give victims some closure and not have these investigations, prosecutions and trials impact on victims for years," says Tom Stamakatis of the Vancouver Police Union.
Victim's rights activist David Toner has done lengthy research on B.C. courts and says the flaws stem from heavy caseloads, a shortage of prosecutors, and lengthy trials.
"People kick and scream about a two-tiered health care system, but what we've got is a two-tiered justice system now," says Toner. "The courts are for people who can afford it and nothing for those who can't."
Oppal says he is launching a review of sentencing practices across B.C. in order to restore eroding public confidence in the courts system. He thinks that ordering people to mediate will help, as well as imposing limitations on discovery.
But opinions are still split on what measures can help a justice system that appears to be fatally flawed.
"Maybe there needs to be more courts," says Toner.
"We need to be cautious that we don't into some course of action that might create more problems," says Stamakatis.
Until some of these things start happening, many people agree that B.C.'s justice system will remain pilloried as weak and unfair.
With a report from CTV British Columbia's Peter Grainger
