Quebec Assistant Prosecutors Quit Over Back-To-Work Legislation

The province’s legal system remains in chaos after prosecutors went on strike two weeks ago demanding higher wages.

The provincial government passed legislation Monday forcing prosecutors back to work, only to have most of the assistant prosecutors who had been filling in for them resign Tuesday. The assistants are responsible for handing out cases to crown lawyers, meaning that the prosecution of Quebec’s accused criminals, including 155 Hell’s Angels rounded up for “megatrial,” remains in limbo. Crown lawyers in Quebec receive more than a third less salary than do prosecutors in other provinces and negotiations for higher wages stalled two weeks ago when the government said it had no money to meet prosecutors’ demands. Government negotiators’ offer of a modest six-per-cent wage increase over five years was enshrined in the back-to-work legislation, but prosecutors say that’s unacceptable.