The United Counties of Stormont, Dundas, and Glengarry (SDG) is set to eliminate its two satellite Provincial Offences Courts in Alexandria and Morrisburg.
The courts are used for cases involving offences against provincial legislation. Those included fines under the Highway Traffic Act, Occupational Health and Safety Act, Dog Owners’ Liability Act, and the Trespass to Property Act. The satellite court in Alexandria would hear provincial offences cases originating in North and South Glengarry.
Satellite Provincial Offences Courts across Ontario have not had the authority to hear in-person proceedings since March 2020 when health and safety measures due to COVID-19 were implemented. A report from SDG Director of Financial Services and Treasurer Rebecca Russell states there is no indication from the Ministry of the Attorney General about when, or if satellite courts will reopen. In 2021, SDG spent about $50,000 on upgrades to its Provincial Offences courtroom at the counties administration building in Cornwall so cases could be heard remotely or using a hybrid format. No such improvements were made to the satellite locations and would be required if they were to reopen.
The lease for the Alexandria Satellite Provincial Offences Court, which is at the provincial courthouse in Alexandria, is set to expire on May 31, 2024. The lease for Morrisburg facility is to expire on December 31, 2023. The Alexandria lease costs SDG $3,500 per year and the Morrisburg lease costs $3,250 per year.
“There’s no indication in the future any of these courts will open,” Russell told SDG Counties Council on October 16.
“I think this is a big change for some,” Warden Tony Fraser said. He noted there was previous concern before about lack of use and cost of maintaining the facilities.
“There would have to be a significant amount of investment in these courts should we ever get to have it reopen,” remarked Russell, adding she is hopeful there will be discussions with the Ministry of the Attorney General about the issue.
The disuse of the satellite Provincial Offences Courts led North Glengarry Mayor Jamie MacDonald to change his position on their existence.
“Since I fought 10 consecutive years to keep them open, I do see we aren’t using them at this point and it doesn’t make sense to continue operating them so I’d be in favour of seeing them close,” MacDonald said.
North Glengarry Deputy Mayor Carma Williams agreed.
“I think the cost of equipping them when they may not be used anyway probably doesn’t make sense at this point in time,” she said.
There was unanimous support among the remaining members of SDG Counties Council for discontinuing the satellite Provincial Offences Court leases in Alexandria and Morrisburg and closing the facilities permanently.
