The provincial government is proposing improvements to the provincial justice system.
Attorney General Doug Downey wants to streamline the judicial appointment process to get new judges on the bench quicker.
At least 17 new judges are promised for this year.
The move is to address the backlog of cases now experienced in some courtrooms.
“These changes will support our goal of providing swift access to justice for victims of crime and help them avoid the grief and anxiety that come with delays. Any way we can help address backlogs and delays in the Ontario Court of Justice is a better day for victims and their families.,” says Downey.
The province last year, promised to add 25 new judges to the bench.
The province is also setting up a new cybercrime and cryptocurrency prosecution team to assist police in their investigations and prosecutions of major cybercrime cases.
Separate units focusing on guns and gangs are also being expanded, while a Provincial Gun and Gang Support Unit that provides early advice to police is being made permanent.
“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.”
The RCMP has three cybercrime divisions operating in Ontario, while the OPP has a dedicated 12-member cybercrime unit.
