Ontario planning to introduce digital court system

Osgoode Hall is seen in Toronto on Wednesday, Sept. 25, 2019. The building is home to Ontario’s Court of Appeal and also hears cases from Divisional Court and civil litigation before the Superior Court of Justice. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Colin Perkel

TORONTO -

Ontario is planning to introduce a digital court system that will allow people to access court information from anywhere, and file documents and pay fees online.

Attorney General Doug Downey says it will be a foundational transformation and will potentially be the biggest investment in the justice system in Ontario's history.

He says he's not able to disclose a dollar figure yet, as the technology is in the procurement process and Downey hopes to have a deal signed by the end of the fall.

The system should allow people to submit documents, access court information, schedule matters and appearances, pay fees, and receive decisions electronically.

Downey says the goal is for court users to be able to do everything digitally from start to finish, but paper services should still be available for those who can't access online functions.

It's something the Ontario government has tried before but ultimately ended up scrapping in favour of a piecemeal approach to modernization, but Downey says this time it will come to fruition.

(The Canadian Press)