REALITY OF JUSTICE IN BRITISH COLUMBIA COURTS

Justice Moves at a Snail’s Pace

A recent court case in Nanaimo illustrates just how slowly “justice” moves in British Columbia — despite all the political noise about getting tough on crime. For years, we’ve heard politicians promise action, express concern, and vow to restore public confidence. But talk is cheap, and the results tell a different story.

As reported in the Nanaimo Bulletin, a man charged in August 2022 was only just found guilty on September 25, 2025 — more than three years later. The charges were hardly minor: four counts of possessing a controlled substance for the purpose of trafficking — fentanyl, methamphetamine, cocaine, and MDMA. The same report noted he had previously been convicted in February 2022 in Port Alberni for similar trafficking offences.

The article made no mention of a sentence, so it appears sentencing will occur at a later date. In the meantime, one can only wonder how this individual supported himself over the past three years while the case crept through the system.

Our criminal justice system is supposed to deliver justice — not only for the accused, but also for victims, communities, and the public’s faith in fairness and order. Yet today we face a troubling paradox: accused drug traffickers are walking free — not because they were found innocent, but because the system couldn’t bring them to trial in time.

This is not hyperbole. Under R. v. Jordan (2016), the Supreme Court of Canada set strict presumptive limits on how long prosecutions can take: 18 months for most provincial cases and 30 months for more serious or complex matters in superior courts. When those ceilings are exceeded — unless there are clearly justified “exceptional circumstances” — charges can be stayed entirely. In plain language, that means dismissed for delay.

Fortunately, in this Nanaimo case, justice wasn’t derailed by delay. But it still took three years — an unacceptably long time for a serious trafficking file. We’ll continue to follow this case and report what kind of sentence is ultimately handed down.