Just a year after it was transformed into a circuit court, the Lloydminster Courthouse has been re-established as a fully operational Saskatchewan provincial court.
Lloydminster MLA Colleen Young says the concerns from residents across the region centered around fear of a lack of access to justice. She adds she received correspondence from members of the public, as well as organizations like the RCMP.
“As a province and government, it’s our role to ensure people do have access to justice, and they are served in the right way,” she says.
“It made it frustrating for those who actually have to work on a daily basis within the system, and couldn’t get warrants in time, couldn’t get documents filed because everything had to go through North Battleford,” she adds.
Minister of Justice and Attorney General, Bronwyn Eyre, says the Saskatchewan Government listened to concerns about the loss of the registry office, and the increase in case volumes, which helped the decision to re-designate.
In addition to the ability for residents in the region to pay fines at the courthouse, it will also act as a full registry from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m Monday through Friday. The change from a circuit to provincial court centre will be completed as soon as positions in the facility are filled.
