Ontario Families Benefit From Justice Improvements
September 23, 2010 10:30 AMMcGuinty Government Expands Program To Find Resolutions
Thousands more families will benefit from improvements to Ontario’s family courts.
The province’s Mandatory Information Program is being expanded from Brampton and Milton to the 17 Family Court branches of the Superior Court of Justice. Families will be able to access the program at these selected courts starting in January 2011.
The program helps families learn about their options to find resolutions without going to court and steps they need to take should they decide to proceed through the court system. It also helps them understand the impact of separation on children and identifies resources available to help them through separation and divorce.
This is a part of the government’s overall family justice reform initiative to make the family courts more straightforward, focused and affordable.
QUICK FACTS
- The Mandatory Information Program was first launched in Milton and Brampton in June 2010, and more than 600 people have already benefited.
- The 17 Family Court branches of the Superior Court of Justice are located in Ottawa, Cornwall, Perth, L’Orignal, Brockville, Kingston, Napanee, Peterborough, Cobourg, Lindsay, Oshawa, Newmarket, Barrie, Bracebridge, Hamilton, St. Catharines and London.
- Over half of Ontario’s population will now have access to Mandatory Information Programs in 20 locations: the 17 Family Courts, Brampton, Milton and the Toronto Superior Court of Justice.
- Approximately 160,000 people use Ontario’s Family Courts each year.
