Ontario Appoints Former Progressive Conservative Party VP as Judge, Sparking Criticism

The Ontario government has appointed Sara Mintz, a former vice-president of the Progressive Conservative party, as a judge in the Ontario Court of Justice in Toronto. This move has sparked strong criticism from opposition parties, who view it as the latest example of the government appointing political insiders to prestigious roles.

NDP MPP Kristyn Wong-Tam and Green Party Leader Mike Schreiner have expressed concerns that Mintz's appointment weakens public trust in the justice system and represents a "dangerous politicization of the judicial process." Similarly, Liberal parliamentary Leader John Fraser has described it as a "continuation of the Ford gravy train" of appointing well-connected insiders to positions.

The government has defended the appointment, stating that Mintz has 20 years of legal experience and has held other roles, such as being the alternative executive chair of Tribunals Ontario. However, the opposition parties have condemned the government's efforts to appoint "tough-on-crime judges" and install former party staffers on the committee that selects provincial judges.

Why this matters: The appointment of a former political party executive to a judicial position raises questions about the independence and impartiality of the justice system. It also highlights concerns about the politicization of the judicial appointment process and the potential erosion of public trust in the courts.

Premier Doug Ford has previously stated his desire to appoint "like-minded" judges who will incarcerate more people, which legal organizations have described as a threat to the independence of the courts. Schreiner argues that "judges should be appointed to apply the law, not to do the Premier's bidding." The opposition parties contend that this appointment is part of a pattern of the Ford government using public resources to reward political allies and insiders.

Key Takeaways

• Ontario appoints former PC VP Sara Mintz as judge, sparking criticism.
• Opposition parties view it as politicization of the judicial process.
• Government defends Mintz's legal experience, but opposition cites "gravy train".
• Concerns raised about independence and impartiality of the justice system.
• Ford government accused of rewarding political allies through judicial appointments.