Ontario. Supreme Court. Local Masters

• Local Masters

Under the Ontario Judicature Act of 1881, Local Masters of the Court of Chancery became Local Masters of the Supreme Court.

Local Masters were appointed by the Lieutenant Governor in Council in each of the counties of the Province of Ontario, on the recommendation of the Attorney General.

In 1989, legislation was passed which merged the Supreme and District Courts of the province and regionalized the court system. As a result, Local Masters of the Supreme Court were replaced with Local Masters of the Ontario Court (General Division).

The following is a simple alphabetical listing of the counties/districts/judicial districts that existed within the Province between 1881 and 1989 (with Dt.= District, Co.=County, and J.D.=Judicial District), along with the dates for which they existed: Algoma Dt. (1859- ); Brant Co. (1853- ); Bruce Co. (1867- ); Carleton Co. ( 1850-1969); Cochrane Dt. (1922- ); Dufferin Co. (1881- ); Durham J.D. (1974- ); Elgin Co. (1853- ); Essex Co. (1853- ); Frontenac Co. (1865- ); Grey Co. (1853- ); Haldimand Co. (1851-1974); Haldimand J.D. (1974- ); Haliburton Co. (1874- ); Halton Co. (1855-1973); Halton J.D. (1974- ); Hamilton- Wentworth J.D. (1974- ); Hastings Co. (1850- ); Huron Co. (1867- ); Kenora Dt. (1898- ); Kent Co. (1851- ); Lambton Co. (1853- ); Lanark Co. (1866- ); Leeds and Grenville United Cos. (1850- ); Lennox and Addington United Co. (1865- ); Lincoln Co. (1856-1970); Manitoulin Dt. (1899- ); Middlesex Co. (1850-1851; 1853- ); Muskoka and Parry Sound Dt. (1888-1898); Muskoka Dt. (1898- ); Niagara North J.D. (1970- ); Niagara South J.D. (1970- ); Nipissing Dt. (1858- ); Norfolk Co. (1850-1974); Norfolk J.D. (1974- ); Northumberland and Durham United Cos. (1850-1973); Northumberland Co. (1974- ); Ontario Co. (1853-1973); Ottawa-Carleton J.D. (1969- ); Oxford Co. (1850- ); Parry Sound Dt. (1898- ); Peel Co. (1866- 1973); Peel J.D. (1974- ); Perth Co. (1853- ); Peterborough Co. (1850-1851; 1863- ); Prescott and Russell United Cos. (1850- ); Prince Edward Co. (1850- ); Rainy River Dt. (1909- ); Renfrew Co. (1866- ); Simcoe Co. (1850- ); Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry United Cos. (1850- ); Sudbury Dt. (1907- ); Temiskaming Dt. (1913- );(1863- ); Waterloo Co. (1850-1851; 1853- 1973); Waterloo J.D. (1974- ); Wellington Co. (1853- ); Welland Co. (1856-1970); Wentworth Co. (1855-1973); York Co. (1850-1851; 1866-1970); York J.D. (1971- ); and York Region J.D. (1980- ).

Local Masters of the Supreme Court were equivalent to a Local Judge, except that the Master did not sit in an open court. Masters dealt with a wide range of duties, including: administration of partition without action; vacating certificates of lis pendens; motions to wind up companies; motions for interpleader; payment into court of moneys under the Trustee Act; payment of money out of court; hearing motions for judgment on specially endorsed writs and actions for account; certain motions relating to estates.

Ontario Judicature Act, Statutes of Ontario 1881, Chap. 5

Courts of Justice Amendment Act, Statutes of Ontario 1989, Chap. 55

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

2026-11-16: migrated to AtoM

Legislation (see above)

Holmested, George. A Manual of Practice of the High Court of Justice for Ontario (1881)

Ontario Government Telephone Directories

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

Archivist(s):
T. Belton, R. Anger