Crown attorneys union scores win ahead of hearing

The Manitoba Association of Crown attorneys is pleased with an arbitrator's decision to permit the presentation of an expert report on workload concerns during an upcoming grievance hearing with the province. This decision was made by arbitrator Michael Werier and is based on a report commissioned by the Manitoba Association of Crown attorneys, which builds upon a 2023 survey of union members regarding workload and health issues.

Association President Michael Desautels expressed relief, stating that the admission of the survey will enable the association to effectively present their case regarding the challenges faced by their members. The grievance hearing is set to commence on November 23, and the association plans to utilize the survey and report by Erin Deviney to demonstrate that the province has failed to address the issues stemming from excessive workload.

The government opposed admitting the Deviney Report into evidence but agreed to the admission of a 2023 survey by Dr. Lisa Kitt and Dr. Nathalie Gagnon. The association hired Deviney to assess if there has been any improvement since the 2023 survey and argues that excluding the Deviney Report would be prejudicial. Arbitrator Werier emphasized that any weight given to the evidence would be determined through testimony during the hearing, stating that it is premature to make conclusions about any alleged deficiencies in the absence of this expert testimony.

While the NDP government has made improvements in filling Crown attorney vacancies compared to its predecessor, it has not expanded the roster to meet the growing workload demands, according to association Vice-President Ben Wickstrom. Wickstrom estimated that the province would require an additional 50 full-time Crown attorney positions to adequately address the current workload.