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Ontarians serving jury duty will begin to see increased compensation starting Wednesday.
The payment of $120 a day beginning on the juror’s first day served changes the original structure set in place.
The jury fee structure in the province hadn’t been changed since 1989, said Attorney General Doug Downey at last Thursday’s opening of the courts ceremony.
Downey says this is a sector of the justice system that has been “neglected.”
The original payments were set at nothing for the first ten days of trial, $40 daily for days 11 to 49, and $100 from day 50 onward.
“I know we can all agree that juries play a vital role in our justice system. And I, for one, am very grateful when ordinary citizens from all walks of life answer the call and participate in the judicial process,” Downey said.
“In some cases, people are not receiving any compensation for fulfilling their civic duty, all while making personal and economic sacrifices.”
Increasing the pay is “long overdue” and can help remove financial barriers, said Downey.
These changes come while many Ontarians are facing the impact of inflation and tariffs.
