The Ontario government is committing over $29 million to appoint at least 25 new judges to the Ontario Court of Justice (OCJ) and hire 190 additional Crown prosecutors, victim support personnel, and court staff. This significant investment aims to address the growing backlog of criminal cases and enhance access to justice for all involved, including victims and their families.
“Through this investment, we are taking action to ensure the court has the capacity to hear cases in a timely manner,” said Attorney General Doug Downey. “Keeping families and communities safe is a top priority for our government, and this investment builds on the progress being made in reducing and resolving cases before the courts.”
Chief Justice Sharon Nicklas of the Ontario Court of Justice expressed strong support for the initiative, stating, “The Ontario Court of Justice applauds this commitment to providing additional judges. This infusion will be critical in helping the court achieve its vision for a fair, accessible, and innovative system that delivers impartial and timely justice, ensuring that all participants are treated with dignity and can take part meaningfully.”
This funding follows a previous allocation of $72 million from 2021-2023 as part of the province’s criminal case backlog reduction strategy, which aimed to address the unprecedented backlog caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. The current investment will further aid in reducing the backlog and ensure that communities remain safe while holding offenders accountable.