Canadian Lawyer

Annual spending on courthouse repairs/maintenance, by province ($millions) OntarioAlbertaSaskatoonManitobaB.C. Quebec Federal $293,353 2008-09 48 25.346 1.206 5.4 $220,626 2009-10 37.5 24.6828.356 1.198 29.985.45 $188,727 2010-11 26.8 22.715 5.531 1.476 29.885.36 $335,219 2011-12 31.4 25.9247.094 1.282 27.78 5 $154,668 2012-13 26.5 25.02 8.262 1.483 23.295.25 -47.3 % drop/rise -44.8 -1.3 -1.1 23.0 -22.3-2.8 Note: Figures unavailable for other provinces/territories Source: Provincial governments New courthouses built in the past 10 years ProvinceNumber of new courthousesTotal spend ($M) Nova Scotia 4 43.85 Saskatoon 1 15.3 Manitoba0 0 B.C. 0 0 Alberta 2346.5 Quebec 00 Ontario* 51,456.9 *Includes alternatively financed projects repayable over 25-30 years. Source: Provincial governments Calgary courts Centre www.CANADIAN For many lawyers, the issue goes well beyond an aversion to ratty working environments. Court fears the environment at Sherwood Park discourages defendants, especially those appearing before the Youth Court, from taking the proceedings seriously. "What are you seeing when you have a facility like this? That there's no regard for the institution of the administration of justice," he says, adding: "If the building has no gravitas or solemnity, how can anyone engender respect for the institution?" It is far from being the only courthouse that appears to be letting down lawyers and their clients. John-Paul Boyd practised family law in Vancouver for 13 years before becoming executive director of the Canadian Research Institute for Law and the Family, a non-profit organization affiliated with the University of Calgary, earlier this year. He says the reduced investment in court infrastructure has taken its toll on the "dilapidated" provincial courthouse in downtown Vancouver. The building looks "down at the heels," but, importantly, also lacks a crucial "safe space" for parties in cases involving family violence, he says. In addition, case conferences often have to be carried out in rooms not set up for audio recordings. In January a bedbug infestation made the lawyers lounge into ghost town. Broken or inadequate audio equipment that prevents parties from hearing what is going on in court is a widespread issue, according to Bentley Doyle, director of communications at the Trial Lawyers Association of British Columbia. "This is actually a very big problem in some courtrooms," he says. "I've sat with many victims and their families, and L a w ye r m a g . c o m November/December 2013 31

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