The minister of justice admits that the provincial court system has a way to go before meeting the “Gold Standard.”

Helen Conway Ottenheimer is just back from a trip to Ontario where she toured the courts in Kenora and Oshawa and examined “innovative” models being used in those jurisdictions.

She says the provincial court system, which has seen a number of disruptions in recent months due to staffing issues needs improvement.

Conway Ottenheimer says when she sees the approach they have in London for instance, where wrap around services are provided directly in the court system, she admits, we’re far from the Gold Standard. She says the province has to take a “smarter on crime” approach.