New Halton Courthouse a “priority” AG tells Legislature

NEWS RELEASE
Ted Arnott, MPP
Wellington-Halton Hills
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 25, 2015

New Halton Courthouse a “priority” AG tells L
egislature

(Queen’s Park) – A new Courthouse for Halton Region is a priority for the Government, says Ontario’s
Attorney General.

“I have been to Milton to visit the Courthouse there. I know that we need a new Courthouse. It’s a
priority, again I’m saying, but we’ll have to wait and see, with the next budget,” Attorney General
Madeleine Meilleur said in Question Period on March 24 in response to a question from Wellington-
Halton Hills MPP Ted Arnott.

Mr. Arnott questioned the Minister about the urgent need for a new Courthouse in Halton Region and
asked why the Government is dragging its feet on approving one.

“I’ve written to the Attorney General numerous times and spoken to her numerous times about this
problem,” Mr. Arnott told the House. “I also asked for a briefing for Halton-area MPPs from the Attorney
General’s staff on the process for new courthouse approvals. We attended that briefing on December 2
and we were led to believe that a new Halton Courthouse was indeed a priority, as the Minister just said
today.”

“But just weeks later, the Government announced an addition to the Courthouse in Brampton and no
mention was made of the need in Halton Region. My question for the Attorney General is quite simple:
When will you announce approval for a new Halton Courthouse?” he asked.

The Minister indicated that while the Ministry’s first priority is a Courthouse in Toronto, Halton Region is
next on the Government’s list.

“The number one priority that is going forward is here in Toronto, but the next one, Milton – it’s a growing
area and the decision on where the courthouse will be built is not made yet,” said the Minister.

The existing court facility in Milton was first built more than 50 years ago. While there was addition 35
years ago, the population of Halton Region has exploded in recent years and is expected to continue to
grow for the foreseeable future.

“The existing court facility in Milton is aging, overcrowded, and inadequate in terms of security and
privacy,” Mr. Arnott said after Question Period. “People are often required to travel to Brampton or
Guelph because the existing facility simply cannot handle the volume of cases.”

“Halton Regional Chair Gary Carr, Regional Council, Courthouse users, and all four of Halton’s MPPs
have been pushing for this project,” noted Mr. Arnott. “There is broad support. It is time to get this
started.”

(Attached: Hansard record of Mr. Arnott’s questions and the Minister’s responses in the Ontario
Legislature, March 24, 2015)

– 30 –

Ted Arnott, MPP
Phone: 416-325-3880
Email: ted.arnott@pc.ola.org

Ontario Hansard – 24-March2015
MILTON COURTHOUSE

Mr. Ted Arnott: My question is for the Attorney General. Why is the government dragging its feet on
the approval of a new courthouse in Halton region?

Hon. Madeleine Meilleur: I thank you for this question. I know that you have been asking me, and many
of the members on my side too, about this new courthouse. It’s a priority for this government.
I have been to Milton to visit the courthouse there. I know that we need a new courthouse. It’s a priority,
again I’m saying, but we’ll have to wait and see, with the next budget.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Supplementary?

Mr. Ted Arnott: The urgent need for a new courthouse in Halton region was covered in a big article in
the Toronto Star on January 23. I actually toured the Milton courthouse last September to see for myself,
and simply put, the existing court facility in Milton is aging, overcrowded and inadequate in terms of
security and privacy.
I’ve written to the Attorney General numerous times and spoken to her numerous times about this
problem. I also asked for a briefing for the Halton-area MPPs from the AG’s staff on the process for new
courthouse approvals. We attended that briefing on December 2, and we were led to believe that a new
Halton courthouse was indeed a priority, as the minister just said today. But just weeks later, the
government announced an addition to the courthouse in Brampton, and no mention was made of the need
in Halton region.
My question for the Attorney General is quite simple: When will you announce approval for a new Halton
courthouse?

Hon. Madeleine Meilleur: Again, yes, there are quite a few requests on this side of the House. The
members on my side are asking me on a regular basis about the new courthouse. Yes, I am working with
the judiciary. I’m working with the lawyers’ association. I’ve been there, visiting. There is need.
The number one priority that is going forward is here in Toronto, but the next one, Milton-it’s a growing
area, and the decision on where the courthouse will be built is not made yet. But I know that there is much
need there, and thank you for asking the question again.