The Ontario government is creating a new protocol that will keep a closer eye on criminal cases where taxpayers' dollars are spent to defend criminals, the province's new attorney general announced on Monday.

"The protocol will ensure that public funds for legal aid are spent effectively in those rare criminal cases where the ministry is ordered to pay for defense counsel," Chris Bentley stated in a press release.

The announcement follows the startling revelations last week that taxpayers are on the hook for the whopping legal bill of former Toronto traffic officer Richard Wills, who was convicted of killing his former mistress, Linda Mariani.

Wills' legal tab is estimated at more than $1 million. Despite being a millionaire, he disposed of his assets after he was arrested and convinced a judge he couldn't afford legal representation.

Wills hired and fired half a dozen lawyers -- which were paid for by the public -- during the five years his case dragged through the courts.

Recent documents show the runaway costs of Wills' defence went largely unnoticed by the Ministry of the Attorney General because it thought Legal Aid Ontario was managing the case.

During the early stages of the case, Wills had refused to agree to terms of repayment offered by legal aid, and took over his own defence after the attorney general refused pay his legal bill.

But his conduct during an eight-month preliminary hearing was bizarre, as he regularly interrupted proceedings and insulted his lawyers and the judge with racist and sexist obscenities.

Justice Bryan Shaughnessy said the first-degree murder case was virtually "untriable" unless an experience lawyer could be found to defend Wills.

Shaughnessy, therefore, granted a rare Fisher order in April 2005, which required the province to pay Wills' defence costs, at higher rates than Legal Aid provided.

The judge's order allowed him to receive funding for a lead counsel, who was paid $200 an hour, and junior counsel, who earned $140 an hour.

Last week, opposition parties called for a public inquiry into the spending.

Bentley on Monday said "strengthening and improving Ontario's legal aid system is a key priority for our government."

The minister said he will work with John McCamus, the chairman of Legal Aid Ontario, and seek input from the criminal defence bar on the formalized protocol.

Bentley will also meet with Professor Michael Trebilcock, who is leading a review of the legal aid system in the province.

"Access to justice for those who need it most must rest upon a strong foundation ensuring the effective use of public resources, with appropriate checks and balances in place," Bentley said.

The government announced the legal aid review in September 2006, and it is expected to be completed at the end of February.

With a report from CTV's Paul Bliss and files from The Canadian Press