Court delays piling up as B.C. public-sector strike hits justice system
Posted October 10, 2025 10:43 am.
Last Updated October 10, 2025 6:37 pm.
The ripple effects of the B.C. General Employees’ Union (BCGEU) strike are starting to reach deep into the province’s justice system.
As the BCGEU wraps up six weeks of job action, all remaining staff at adult correctional facilities across the province have now joined the strike — putting additional pressure on the provincial government.
In a statement to CityNews, the province says essential staffing levels remain in place to support the safe and secure operation of all 10 provincial correctional centres.
Officials say supervision of individuals in the community — including pre-sentence reports, home visits, and the Repeat Violent Offending Intervention Initiative — will continue at necessary levels.
However, some programming and supports for inmates will be limited.
While court sheriffs are considered essential and remain on duty, one criminal defence lawyer says they’re starting to feel the pinch behind the scenes.
“Things have been taking a bit longer. It takes a bit longer to get a meeting with your client, and that’s essential,” said Garen Arnet-Zargarian.
“When that’s delayed, it can really throw cases off.”
Arnet-Zargarian says in some cases, people are left in legal limbo.
He specifically points to administrative driving prohibition cases — where hearing dates through Insurance Corporation of British Columbia aren’t being set because adjudicators are on strike.
“You don’t get a hearing date, you still have to comply with all the deadlines to file it, pay for that hearing that you’re not going to get, and meanwhile you remain prohibited,” he said.
“If your vehicle is impounded, it remains that way.”
The strike is now affecting more than 20 provincial ministries, Crown corporations and agencies — from Service BC counters and permitting offices to government-run liquor and cannabis stores.
Roughly 25,000 of the province’s public-sector employees at more than 470 worksites are off the job.
Meanwhile, talks between the union and the province remain at a standstill after falling apart last week over wages.
The BCGEU is demanding an eight per cent pay raise over two years.
