It's not just mental health support that jurors require. There is a lot of evidence. We've spoken to many jurors in regard to support in the workplace. Employees are not supported. Their bosses say, “Oh my God. Who is going to do your job?”
As many of you may know or may not know, the law requires an employer to hold someone's job but it doesn't necessarily require the employer to pay the employee, so you have employees who aren't getting paid or they're being asked to take a short-term leave, which gives them only a portion of their salary.
Jurors don't get paid in many jurisdictions. That varies right across the country. In Ontario, I believe it's 30 days before you get a nickel.
My husband was just summoned to court. The sheet says please show up on this date at this time, and don't forget that you're responsible for paying for your parking. That will be $24 a day. For senior citizens who are on fixed incomes, we shouldn't be requiring that from them. If you are asking them to appear, that is your responsibility.
You're laughing. This is not funny. Everyone in that courtroom, from the judge to the Crown to the prosecutor to the court clerk, to the prisoner who gets three square meals a day and a cot, gets paid. The jurors are asked to pay to get themselves there to perform jury duty every day.