Canada's Chief Justice Richard Wagner has raised concerns about the impact of tight resources on the judicial system, stating that underfunding is leading to trial delays, increased numbers of unrepresented litigants, and deteriorating health among judges. During his annual news conference in Ottawa, Wagner pointed out that the Jordan framework, which sets time limits for criminal trials, is being undermined by these resource issues. He noted that the percentage of unrepresented litigants applying to the Supreme Court has surged from 37% in 2025 to 43% recently, indicating a growing access-to-justice crisis. Wagner called for increased government funding to ensure that trials proceed within reasonable timeframes and suggested that lawyers should contribute more pro bono work to assist those without representation. Furthermore, he mentioned an upcoming study by the Canadian Judicial Council on judges' health, which is expected to reveal significant stress levels among judges due to resource shortages. Despite these challenges, Wagner expressed optimism regarding public trust in the judiciary, emphasizing the importance of maintaining confidence in the justice system.