Ontario Moves to Strengthen Courts and Prosecution Teams in Tough-on-Crime Push
TORONTO — The Ontario government announced a series of proposed measures today aimed at cracking down on crime and ensuring violent, repeat offenders are kept behind bars.
The new initiatives, unveiled by Attorney General Doug Downey, include legislative changes to speed up judicial appointments, the addition of 17 new judges to the Ontario Court of Justice, and the creation of specialized prosecution teams to target serious crimes, including cybercrime and organized gun violence.
“Our government is protecting Ontario communities by cracking down on criminals in our communities,” said Downey. “Specialized prosecution teams will be laser focused on holding offenders accountable, while stronger and more efficient courts will support victims of crime and keep our communities safe.”
Under the proposed legislation, the government would adopt a new “pool-based” recommendation system for judicial appointments, designed to expedite the selection process. The Judicial Appointments Advisory Committee would also be required to factor in criteria set by the Attorney General when evaluating candidates for the bench.
Strengthening the justice system, protecting Ontario.
Proud to unveil our government’s latest tough-on-crime measures:
☑️Streamlining the judicial selection process
☑️17 more judges to the Ontario Court of Justice
☑️The FIRST Cybercrime & Cryptocurrency Prosecution Team in 🇨🇦 pic.twitter.com/4jVq9LNYX5— Doug Downey (@douglasdowney) April 28, 2025
In addition to bolstering the courts, the province plans to strengthen its ability to prosecute complex crimes. A new cybercrime and cryptocurrency prosecution team will be established to support police investigations and take on major cases involving online criminal activity.
“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,” said 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.”
Ontario is also expanding its guns and gangs units in targeted regions and has made its Provincial Gun and Gang Support Unit permanent. The unit has already played a central role in major investigations, leading to over 400 arrests and the seizure of more than 275 firearms through 34 projects.
Today’s announcement builds on Ontario’s broader Guns, Gangs and Violence Reduction Strategy, and follows a commitment made in May 2024 to allocate at least 25 new judges to the Ontario Court of Justice.
The proposed legislation is expected to be introduced later this week.
Follow GTA Today on social media for more local news and updates. #GTAToday
