News Release

For Immediate Release
July 28, 2005

TORONTO — Attorney General Michael Bryant is announcing nine justice of the peace appointments for Welland, Thunder Bay, Brampton/Mississauga, Ottawa/Cornwall, Oshawa, Hamilton and Burlington.

"Justices of the peace are playing an increasingly important role in the justice system," said Bryant. "These appointments illustrate our government's ongoing investment in the justice system and commitment to building stronger, safer communities."

The government is announcing seven new, full-time presiding justices of the peace and two reappointments to full-time presiding justices of the peace, effective August 4, 2005.

Called to the Bar in 1981, Justice of the Peace David Brown was senior prosecutor for Provincial Offences Court in the Niagara area. He has extensive trial experience in both civil and criminal matters. Associate Chief Justice/Co-ordinator of Justices of the Peace, Donald A. Ebbs has assigned Justice of the Peace Brown to Welland.

Justice of the Peace Marcel Donio has been executive director of the Matawa First Nations Management Tribal Council and Chiefs of Ontario. He has served as vice chair of the Citizens Review Board for the Nishnawbe Aski Police Service and manager of the Workplace Discrimination and Harassment Program for the Ontario government. He has also successfully completed the Native Justice of the Peace program. Associate Chief Justice/Co-ordinator of Justices of the Peace, Donald A. Ebbs has assigned Justice of the Peace Donio to Thunder Bay.

Justice of the Peace Milagros Eustaquio has been a board member of the Federal Immigration and Refugee Board and executive director of the Peel Multicultural Council. Most recently, she was a paralegal assistant in a Toronto law firm. Associate Chief Justice/Co-ordinator of Justices of the Peace, Donald A. Ebbs has assigned Justice of the Peace Eustaquio to Brampton/Mississauga.

Justice of the Peace John Guthrie has provided over 28 years of business and advisory services to numerous clients. He was director of admissions for a private college in Thunder Bay and has worked in the financial sector for many years. Associate Chief Justice/Co-ordinator of Justices of the Peace, Donald A. Ebbs has assigned Justice of the Peace Guthrie to Thunder Bay.

Justice of the Peace Linda LeBlanc was integrated trial coordinator for the Superior Court of Justice and the Ontario Court of Justice for the Cornwall area for eight years, and most recently manager of judicial services for the Office of the Chief Justice, Superior Court for the East region in Ottawa. Associate Chief Justice/Co-ordinator of Justices of the Peace, Donald A. Ebbs has assigned Justice of the Peace LeBlanc to Ottawa/Cornwall.

Justice of the Peace Jason Mariasine was a manager for a private company in Cobourg. Most recently, he was an account representative in the financial sector Peterborough. Associate Chief Justice/Co-ordinator of Justices of the Peace, Donald A. Ebbs has assigned Justice of the Peace Mariasine to Oshawa.

A teacher and principal for over 31 years in the Ottawa (Carleton) Separate School Board, Justice of the Peace Bernard Swords has also been a small business owner and operator. Associate Chief Justice/Co-ordinator of Justices of the Peace, Donald A. Ebbs has assigned Justice of the Peace Swords to Ottawa/Cornwall.

These appointments were made through a new, interim process, the first step in the government's plan to transform the justice of the peace system, to ensure that qualified candidates are selected. Further justice of the peace appointments are expected in the coming months.

The government is committed to further transforming the justice of the peace appointment process in order to make the system more open and transparent, and to permanently establish appointment standards to ensure that qualified candidates are appointed.

In addition, Justice of the Peace Mitchell Baker has been reappointed from a part-time non-presiding justice of the peace to a full-time presiding justice of the peace, and Justice of the Peace Christine O'Halloran has been reappointed from a full-time non-presiding justice of the peace to a full-time presiding justice of peace. Justices of the Peace Baker and O'Halloran continue to be assigned in Hamilton and Burlington respectively.

- 30 -

Disponible en français