B.C. trials may have to be delayed, moved, or suspects freed over transportation woes

The Law Courts building, which is home to B.C. Supreme Court and the Court of Appeal, is seen in Vancouver on Monday, Jan. 12, 2026. (Ethan Cairns / The Canadian Press)

VANCOUVER — The Supreme Court of British Columbia says staffing and space issues may see some criminal trials rescheduled or moved, or suspects released from custody, if they’re being held too far from the courthouse where they’re on trial.

Associate Chief Justice Heather Holmes says in a notice on the court’s website that local police detachments used to hold suspects during trials if daily transport to and from a correctional centre was “not manageable.”

The notice says that practice changed last year when the RCMP and other law enforcement agencies could no longer provide “staff and space” to keep people in their custody, and some courthouses in smaller communities don’t have facilities to house suspects during trials.

It says the problem has been dealt with by the court’s sheriffs, often involving an accused being brought from a pretrial facility to the courthouse on a chartered airplane each day of their trial.

The notice says the provincial government and police services have been working on the problem, but it’s unclear when a “long-term solution” will be found and implemented.

Holmes says affected trials may have to be moved or rescheduled, or an accused released from custody, if no arrangements can be made for trials to occur as scheduled.

The notice says the issue impacts trials in communities including Cranbrook, Dawson Creek, Fort St. John, Nelson, Powell River, Prince Rupert, Revelstoke, Rossland, Smithers, Terrace, and Williams Lake.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 30, 2026