Maplehurst Correctional Complex and Vanier Centre for Women in Milton
The Ontario government is introducing new measures aimed at strengthening public safety by targeting violent, repeat offenders and improving the province’s justice system.
New legislation, expected later this week, would streamline the judicial selection process, allocate 17 additional judges to the Ontario Court of Justice, and create specialized prosecution teams to focus on serious crimes. The moves are designed to help courts, including those serving communities like Milton and the broader Halton Region, deal more effectively with complex criminal cases and address backlogs.
“Our government is protecting Ontario communities by cracking down on criminals in our communities,” says Attorney General Doug Downey. “Specialized prosecution teams will be laser focused on holding offenders accountable, while stronger and more efficient courts will support victims of crime and keep our communities safe.”
Proposed changes would introduce a new pool-based system for judicial appointments and require the Judicial Appointments Advisory Committee to consider criteria set by the Attorney General when evaluating candidates.
Ontario is also creating a cybercrime and cryptocurrency prosecution team to assist police in investigating and prosecuting major cybercrime cases. The province is expanding its guns and gangs units as well, aiming to strengthen border security and address the trafficking of illegal firearms, which have been an ongoing concern across regions like Halton.
“We know that crime no longer happens just on the streets, but in the digital world as well, that’s why our government is taking decisive action to bolster prosecution of these criminals,” says Associate Attorney General Michael Tibollo. “Human traffickers, drug dealers and illegal firearm sellers who operate on the dark web will have nowhere to hide as the cybercrime and cryptocurrency prosecution team build cases against them.”
These measures build on Ontario’s broader Guns, Gangs and Violence Reduction Strategy, which has already led to over 400 arrests and the seizure of more than 275 firearms. In addition to the 17 new judges announced today, the government had previously committed to allocating at least 25 new judges to the Ontario Court of Justice as of May 2024 – a move expected to improve access to justice in high-growth areas like Milton.
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