New Courtrooms To Provide More Efficient, Effective Court Services

    TORONTO, Sept. 11 /CNW/ - The McGuinty government is increasing access to
justice by relocating a number of civil courtrooms to a larger, more modern
facility in downtown Toronto, Attorney General Michael Bryant announced today.
    "By opening this new facility we are enhancing the efficiency and
effectiveness of the civil court system," said Bryant. "It will result in
improved services and better access to justice, especially for those in the
Greater Toronto Area."
    The new courts are located at 330 University Avenue and trials are
scheduled to begin today. There are nine courtrooms to accommodate civil,
commercial and estates trials, as well as office space for administration and
mediation. The court also features improved public and counsel table seating,
as well as translation booths. The space was previously leased by the federal
government for court operations.
    Most of the civil court space formerly located at 361 University Avenue
is now being renovated to house Ontario's first major crime court.
    "We are pleased that the government is taking steps to modernize Toronto
civil court facilities," said Michael Barrack, President of The Advocates'
Society. "It will make it that much easier for people to access the justice
system and get the services they require."
    "We congratulate the government on this initiative, which provides modern
court facilities reflecting the diversity of the needs and issues facing civil
courts in Ontario's largest urban centre," said James Morton, President of the
Ontario Bar Association. "It will deliver positive, tangible results for
everyone who uses it."
    "Excellent planning and service delivery considerations are reflected in
the expanded operations of this facility," said Bruce Hutchison, President of
the Toronto Lawyers Association. "The courtrooms to accommodate long civil
trials will especially support the needs of both professionals and clients."
    "Upgrading Toronto's civil court facilities is a tangible and meaningful
demonstration of the government's commitment to improve the civil court system
and increase access to justice," said Greg Monforton, President of the Ontario
Trial Lawyers Association.
    Modernizing these new civil courts and operations is just one way the
McGuinty government is improving access to justice. Other initiatives include:

    <<
    -   Implementing a new regulatory scheme to protect people who hire
        lawyers on a contingency fee basis. Contingency fee agreements lower
        the cost barrier for people.

    -   Introducing legislation that would, if passed, amend the Limitations
        Act to give potential litigants and businesses the opportunity to
        reach their own arrangements on limitation periods. A limitation
        period is a time period that sets out how long a person has to start
        legal proceedings.

    -   Providing low-income Ontarians with greater access to justice through
        court fee waivers. People who meet the eligibility criteria
        automatically qualify for fee waivers, while those who do not qualify
        may ask a judge, in writing, for a waiver.

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                      www.attorneygeneral.jus.gov.on.ca


    Backgrounder
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------

                   MCGUINTY GOVERNMENT ACHIEVING RESULTS IN
                         IMPROVING ACCESS TO JUSTICE

    The McGuinty government is achieving results in improving access to
justice. The government has implemented a number of initiatives to modernize
and improve access to Ontario's justice system while providing greater
openness, transparency and accountability. These initiatives include:

    -   Introducing Bill 14, the Access to Justice Act, 2005 that would, if
        passed:

        -  Regulate paralegals and give consumers more choice in qualified
           legal services while protecting people who get legal advice from
           non-lawyers

        -  Amend the Justices of the Peace Act to reform the appointment
           process, establish minimum qualifications and improve the
           complaints and discipline process

        -  Amend the Provincial Offences Act to allow witnesses to be heard
           by video conferencing or other electronic means

        -  Create the Legislation Act, which would make Ontario's statutes
           and regulations more accessible to the public

        -  Amend the Limitations Act to give potential litigants and
           businesses the opportunity to reach their own arrangements on
           limitation periods, which is a time period that sets out how long
           a person has to start legal proceedings

        -  Amend the Courts of Justice Act to increase the use of periodic
           payments to provide compensation for successful plaintiffs of
           medical malpractice cases and reduce subsidies to medical doctors'
           malpractice insurance.

    -   Appointing former associate chief justice of Ontario Coulter Osborne
        to lead the Civil Justice Reform Project, which will develop options
        to reform the civil justice system to make it more accessible and
        affordable.

    -   Introducing Bill 107, the Human Rights Code Amendment Act, 2006 that
        would, if passed, improve and strengthen the promotion, advancement
        and enforcement of human rights in Ontario.

    -   Introducing Bill 103, the Independent Police Review Act, 2006 that
        would, if passed, create an independent civilian body to administer
        the police review system in Ontario.

    -   Enhancing the efficiency and effectiveness of Toronto civil courts by
        moving some operations to a new location at 330 University Ave. and
        expanding the capacity of the civil court system.

    -   Announcing the construction of two major crime courts in Toronto
        designed to meet the requirements of large, complex trials that
        involve multiple accused.

    -   Increasing funding to Legal Aid Ontario (LAO) by $13 million in
        2006/07. Since October 2003, the McGuinty government has increased
        base funding for LAO by 10 per cent, or $25 million. The government
        is the agency's biggest funder.

    -   Establishing a panel on justice and the media to promote mutual
        understanding and strengthen public trust in the justice system. The
        ministry is now considering 17 recommendations made by the panel in
        the areas of openness, education, working in the electronic age and
        the ongoing relationship between justice and the media.

    -   Implementing a new regulatory scheme to protect people who hire
        lawyers on a contingency fee basis. Contingency fee agreements lower
        the cost barrier for people seeking access to justice.

    -   Establishing a pro bono task force to look at new ways for government
        lawyers to do pro bono work in the community. This includes the
        Adopt-a-School Project, in which lawyers support teachers in legal
        education.

    -   Appointing 57 judges, 40 Justices of the Peace and additional court
        staff to shorten the time it takes to get cases to trial. The
        government also hired 64 new Crowns who are dedicated to the Guns and
        Gangs Task Force and related matters. As well, the complement of
        judges that hear family and child protection cases in the Ontario
        Court of Justice has increased by six.

    -   Enacting Bill 27, the Family Statute Law Amendment Act, which ensures
        that all family law arbitrations are governed by Ontario and Canadian
        law.

    -   Establishing a Family Law Working Group to look at ways to modernize
        family law in Ontario.

    -   Working to improve family law restraining orders as part of the
        Domestic Violence Action Plan.

    -   Providing low-income Ontarians with greater access to justice through
        court fee waivers. People who meet the eligibility criteria
        automatically qualify for fee waivers, while those who do not qualify
        may ask a judge, in writing, for a waiver.


    Disponible en français

                      www.attorneygeneral.jus.gov.on.ca