Evidence of meeting #78 for Justice and Human Rights in the 42nd Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was jurors.
A video is available from Parliament.
Deputy Clerk of the Court, Court of Queen's Bench, Alberta Juror Support Program
It definitely is an issue. In fact, the jurors can require to be excused because of financial hardship. Prior to the selection, we do have lots of applications to be excused because of financial hardship.
Conservative
Rob Nicholson Conservative Niagara Falls, ON
As you say, most of them, when they're called to do their civic duty, are there to do it with honour, so it's too bad that this is the case. Do you think part of the reason for this low compensation is the inertia in our justice system that you talked about earlier? It's actually what I suspect. Maybe these prices were set in 1969 and nobody has reviewed them since. Is that part of the issue, do you think?
Deputy Clerk of the Court, Court of Queen's Bench, Alberta Juror Support Program
I don't have permission on behalf of Alberta Justice to address that, but I can tell you that Justice Hughes' report does recommend an increase. Her recommendation was from $50 to at least $80.
Conservative
Deputy Clerk of the Court, Court of Queen's Bench, Alberta Juror Support Program
Yes, sir.
Conservative
Rob Nicholson Conservative Niagara Falls, ON
Then it was almost 10 years ago that $80 was recommended.
Liberal
November 29th, 2017 / 4:25 p.m.
Liberal
Angelo Iacono Liberal Alfred-Pellan, QC
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
I would like to ask a question about the conditions of jury duty.
Do you think that the requirements and the exemptions for participating on a jury should be different with long and complex cases, such as the megatrials that have been held in Quebec?
Deputy Clerk of the Court, Court of Queen's Bench, Alberta Juror Support Program
I don't know how to answer that.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Anthony Housefather
Are you getting Mr. Iacono's translation when he is asking the question?
Deputy Clerk of the Court, Court of Queen's Bench, Alberta Juror Support Program
I understand the question. I wouldn't have the experience to answer that except to give my personal opinion.
The reasons for jurors to be excused today are already extensive. They do encompass prior health conditions or mental health. There are several reasons to be excused. I don't see that right now that part needs to be enhanced.
Does that answer your question?
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Anthony Housefather
Thank you.
We'll go to Mr. MacGregor, then Mr. Fraser, and then Mr. Liepert.
NDP
Alistair MacGregor NDP Cowichan—Malahat—Langford, BC
Ms. Jobagy, you informed this committee on the compensation that's offered to jurors. You talked a little bit about some of the stresses they may experience from a significant drop in income. I know that employment standards in each province allow for jury duty and that it's not supposed to affect a person's employment: at the end of their jury duty, they're supposed to just slip right back into their job.
Do you know of any cases in which jurors have made complaints that they may have missed out on opportunities to advance in the work, or missed out on skills training, or had friction with their employer as a result of their service? I'm wondering if Alberta Justice has any statistics on that.
Deputy Clerk of the Court, Court of Queen's Bench, Alberta Juror Support Program
No, there are no statistics available.
I am aware that in certain courthouses there have been complaints about having to go to work before the jury trial, and then coming in and doing the trial, and then going to work. It is similar to what your previous witnesses testified, but I'm not aware of any statistics.
Liberal
Colin Fraser Liberal West Nova, NS
Thank you.
Ms. Jobagy, I'm sorry for mispronouncing your name earlier. I realize now it was incorrect on my notice of meeting.
With regard to the jurors that are allowed to access services for counselling, is that all jurors, even those who didn't see it all the way through to the final conclusion of the trial? Is that any juror who served for any period of time?
Alberta Juror Support Program
Mr. Chair, I'd like to answer that question for Mr. Fraser.
We have discussed those situations of a jury member needing to leave the trial for whatever reason and not participating through the full trial, and yes, we would consider them to still be eligible for support. Those might be those special circumstances that we would discuss with the Alberta Justice team.
I do recall that being one type of scenario that was discussed when we were looking at implementing the program, but I do not believe we've had any of those cases or situations occur.
Deputy Clerk of the Court, Court of Queen's Bench, Alberta Juror Support Program
Mr. Fraser, I would like to add on behalf of Alberta Justice that you may be referring to the situation of having 14 jurors initially, and two get dismissed prior to the end of the trial. Yes, they would still be part of the program.
Conservative
Ron Liepert Conservative Calgary Signal Hill, AB
Ms. Newcombe, I have a quick question.
Are all of the counselling services provided in-house at your firm, or do you find that sometimes you have to go outside to contract with medical professionals that you can't provide in-house?