Ontario. Provincial Offences Courts

• Provincial Offences Courts

The Provincial Offences Courts were established in 1980 by an amendment to the Provincial Courts Act. The courts are presided over by justices of the peace appointed by the Lieutenant Governor. Provincial judges, however, may also sit in the court. The Chief Judge of the Provincial Court (Criminal Division) is also Chief Judge of the Provincial Offences Courts. Additionally, the Clerk of the Provincial Court (Criminal Division) of a county or district is also the Clerk of the Provincial Offences Court for that county or district. The Court held sittings on a regular basis in each of the various counties and districts of the province. By 1989, this included 149 locations. In 1989, the Provincial Offences Courts were merged with the Provincial Court (Criminal Division) and the Provincial Court (Family Division) to form the Ontario Court of Justice (Provincial Division).

The Provincial Offences Courts had jurisdiction to hear, determine and dispose of minor matters involving offences under the Statutes of Ontario, such as the Highway Traffic Act, as well as under municipal by-laws, excluding parking infractions.

Provincial Courts Amendment Act, Statutes of Ontario 1979, Chap. 5

RAD: Rules for Archival Description, 2nd edn (2008)

2026-11-16: migrated to AtoM

Zuber, The Honourable T.G. Report of the Ontario Courts Inquiry (1987)

KWIC Indexes, 1980-1990

Agency not in Canadiana Name Authorities, 1996-12-24

Archivist(s):
R. Anger