Que. Crown attorneys threaten strike

The head of the association that represents Crown attorneys in Quebec says his members are prepared to strike if their work situation doesn't improve.

Christian Leblanc says Quebec prosecutors are the worst-paid in Canada, and that's making recruitment and retention of new prosecutors difficult.

As a result, court delays are longer in Quebec than anywhere else in the country and four times more accused people are being acquitted, says Leblanc.

"Prosecutors are telling me, 'I won't appeal, I don't have time to appeal. If I do, I'll have to write it up on the weekend at home after I put the kids to bed.'"

Leblanc describes the situation in Quebec as justice at a discount.

He gives the example of the Abitibi region, where the most experienced Crown attorney was called to the bar just three years ago.

"We're at a crossroads," he says. "The Crown is headed for a wall. Something has to be done to correct the situation."

Criminals profiting

J.D. Jerols is a prosecutor with 25 years' experience who says a weak prosecutioncan only result in a weak justice system.

"Who profits from a weak Crown? You can start with organized crime, you can start with corruption, you can start with gangs, you can start with people who have very good attorneys and know the Crown does not have a very solid case, because witnesses may not come and talk" said Jerols.

Jerols says when he started out as a Crown prosecutor he earned about 80 per cent of what a Quebec Court judge makes. Today he earns 40 per cent.

"And the job hasn't gotten any easier. On the contrary, it's harder."

Jerols says he could move toOntario where the maximum salary is $196,000 and earn almost double what he earns in Quebec or he could go work as a federal prosecutor, which is what one of his colleagues has decided to do at the end of the month.

"There comes a point that you cannot continue any more, no matter how much you love your job, no matter how much you believe in justice and how much you want to help victims. You can't go on and on," he says.

Serge Gauthier made the jump to the private sector and became a defence lawyer after years as a public defender. "I was tired of being exploited. I decide to leave and take my retirement. I would have stayed on," he says.

Beware comparisons

There are currently 450 Crown attorneys in Quebec. The association says the province would have to hire200 more prosecutors to meet the national average.

The union has been seeking a meeting with the public security minister or the justice minister to make its case.

Treasury Board president Michelle Courchesne would not comment, except to say "it is a legitimate union position" and to beware of comparisons.

Crown prosecutors in Quebec have been without a contract since April.