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Attorney General Unveils Plaque At New Renfrew County Courthouse

 McGuinty Government Building A More Accessible, Effective And Timely Justice System

     PEMBROKE, ON, July 26 /CNW/ - The McGuinty government is providing Renfrew area residents with improved access to justice with the completion of a $23-million consolidated courthouse project in Pembroke, Attorney General Michael Bryant said today at a local plaque unveiling ceremony.

     "This magnificent, historic courthouse has been providing the community with justice services for 140 years," said Bryant. "The award-winning, renovated and expanded courthouse is now modern and accessible. I am confident it will continue to serve the area well into the future."

     The courthouse consolidates the Superior and Ontario Courts of Justice from four locations into a renovated municipally-owned national heritage courthouse and registry office building at 297 Pembroke Street East. The new courthouse began operating June 25, 2007.

     Bryant, along with local officials, marked the recent completion of the

Renfrew County courthouse expansion at the ceremony. Later, the Attorney General toured the 75,000-square-foot facility, which includes enhanced security features such as a new audio surveillance system and closed circuit television monitors in holding cells and barrier-free access for people with disabilities.

     The courthouse has six courtrooms, including a child-friendly courtroom

specifically designed to meet the needs of child victims and witnesses. In

addition, there are two settlement rooms, two jury deliberation rooms, a

Victim/Witness Assistance Program office, Crown attorney offices and a new sallyport (a secure vehicle drop-off point for in-custody individuals).

     "The city of Pembroke is delighted to see our courthouse restored to its historic prominence," said Pembroke Mayor Ed Jacyno. "We thank the government of Ontario for taking the initiative to ensure that this pre-Confederation building will continue to serve into the future as a beacon of historical significance."

     "The consolidation of our courts in our renovated historic courthouse in

Pembroke makes it a true centre of justice - improving court operations and making the administration of justice more efficient and accessible for the people of Renfrew County," said Matthew Bradley, president of the Renfrew County Law Association.

     The heritage courthouse was completed in 1867 and is recognized as one of the finest buildings in Canada for its use of local quarried freestone.

Original Confederation building materials were used where possible during the expansion and renovation. In keeping with provincial standards for such important historical sites, the integrity of the original design was

preserved. The design for the expanded heritage courthouse was awarded a Certificate of Merit by the American Institute of Architects in October 2006.

     A formal opening ceremony will be scheduled for Spring 2008.

     This courthouse project is just one more example of how, working

together, Ontarians have achieved results in improving access to justice. The McGuinty government's commitment to improving access to justice for Ontarians also includes:

     -   Appointing 65 judges, 113 justices of the peace across Ontario and

         additional court staff to help shorten the time it takes to get cases

         to trial

     -   The Access to Justice Act, 2006, which reformed the justice of the

         peace system and regulates paralegals. It also amended the Courts of

         Justice Act and the Limitations Act and created a new act that will

         be a single source for rules about Ontario's laws

     -   The Human Rights Code Amendment Act, 2006, which will improve and strengthen the promotion, advancement and enforcement of human rights in Ontario.