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Ontario Looks at ODR for Some Provincial Offences

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The Ministry of the Attorney General is considering an online dispute resolution (ODR) system for dealing with some provincial offences, mainly traffic offences to start.

The system would rely on administrative monetary penalties rather than judicially-imposed fines. The consultation document talks about how someone with a ticket could challenge it online, as well as finding out more about how the process works.

Here is a useful table showing the major changes.

Feel free to participate in the consultation, or to say what you think of it here, or both.

Comments

  1. John Gregory
    March 4th, 2015 at 10:29 am

    Footnote 1 to the consultation paper will be of interest:

    Detail about how the system will operate, and specifically the elements of the online adjudication system, is beyond the scope of this consultation. The ministry plans to work with technological and subject-matter experts throughout the development process.

    So this consultation is about the concepts but not the ODR model itself. See pages 8 and 9 of the paper for the questions that the ministry is looking for comments on at this time. Here is one of those questions:

    3. What benefits and/or challenges do you foresee with creating an online AMP system for minor and/or straightforward matters currently dealt with under the POA? Also consider:
     If the on-line system provided supporting information and guidance through the dispute or payment process, would this enhance access to justice for self-represented litigants?
     What kinds of information and services could be provided on-line to help users (e.g. instructional videos, smart forms, on-line mediation, etc.?)
     What is the best way for people without internet access to receive services, attain information or dispute a matter, e.g. over the telephone?
     Would it be an advantage if the system was available 24-7?

    The ministry is open to comments about other uses of technology to enhance administrative efficiency, ease of use and access to justice. (See Q 7.)

  2. John Gregory
    March 6th, 2015 at 2:13 pm

    “John Smith” commented as follows (but had to be retrieved from the submission process…):

    It’s about time this happened – the idea that you have to be physically present in court to dispute something as small as a speeding ticket is ridiculous… Now let’s extend online processes to all sorts of other routine appearances that currently require in-person attendance. It’s time the courts moved into the 21st century. We need 100s of these projects launched and executed to bring any semblance of efficiency to the litigation process…