Brampton Mayor Patrick Brown is spearheading a province-wide effort to address mounting delays and inefficiencies within Ontario’s overburdened justice system. A motion brought forward by Mayor Brown and seconded by St. Catharines Mayor Mat Siscoe has been officially endorsed by Ontario’s Big City Mayors (OBCM)—a coalition representing the province’s largest urban centres.
The motion, passed unanimously at the OBCM’s latest meeting, urges the Ontario government to take immediate action to resolve critical shortfalls in judicial capacity, disclosure procedures, and technological infrastructure that are contributing to court backlogs across the province.
Among the motion’s key recommendations:
- Appoint more judges, Crown attorneys, and court staff to help reduce case backlog and improve access to timely justice.
- Review disclosure timelines under the R. v. Jordan decision to ensure they reflect the realities of complex criminal investigations without jeopardizing cases.
- Invest in digital evidence and case management systems that can streamline the disclosure process and improve efficiency.
Recent figures underscore the urgency of reform. In the 2022–23 fiscal year, over 56% of criminal cases in Ontario ended without trial—either withdrawn, stayed, dismissed, or discharged. This marks a 14% increase since 2013–14, raising concerns that resource gaps are enabling justice to be delayed, and in many cases, denied.
Locally, Peel Regional Police have begun taking proactive steps by assigning nine constables to manage initial disclosure and introducing AI-powered tools to expedite documentation. Despite these efforts, municipal police services continue to face growing disclosure demands from the Ministry of the Attorney General without commensurate resources.
The Ontario Big City Mayors will formally present their concerns and proposed solutions to the Ministry of the Attorney General in the coming weeks.
“Police services and courts are under immense pressure from complex investigations, limited judicial capacity, and tight disclosure timelines,” said Mayor Patrick Brown.
“This has created a bottleneck that’s not only slowing down justice, but in many cases, preventing it altogether. All levels of government can do more to enhance public safety, and this motion demonstrates municipal governments’ united commitment to driving action.”