Ministry of the Attorney General Act, R.S.O. 1990, c. M.17

Ministry of the Attorney General Act

R.S.O. 1990, CHAPTER M.17

Historical version for the period August 20, 2007 to December 14, 2009.

Last amendment: 2006, c. 35, Sched. C, s. 80.

Definition

1.In this Act,

“Ministry” means the Ministry of the Attorney General. R.S.O. 1990, c. M.17, s. 1.

Ministry continued

2.(1)The ministry of the public service known in English as the Ministry of the Attorney General and in French as ministère du Procureur général is continued. R.S.O. 1990, c. M.17, s. 2 (1).

Attorney General to have charge

(2)The Attorney General shall preside over and have charge of the Ministry. R.S.O. 1990, c. M.17, s. 2 (2).

Deputy Attorney General

3.The Lieutenant Governor in Council shall appoint a Deputy Attorney General who shall be the deputy head of the Ministry. R.S.O. 1990, c. M.17, s. 3.

Employees

4. Such employees may be appointed under Part III of the Public Service of Ontario Act, 2006 as are required from time to time for the proper conduct of the business of the Ministry. R.S.O. 1990, c. M.17, s. 4; 2006, c. 35, Sched. C, s. 80.

Functions

5.The Attorney General,

(a) is the Law Officer of the Executive Council;

(b) shall see that the administration of public affairs is in accordance with the law;

(c) shall superintend all matters connected with the administration of justice in Ontario;

(d) shall perform the duties and have the powers that belong to the Attorney General and Solicitor General of England by law or usage, so far as those duties and powers are applicable to Ontario, and also shall perform the duties and have the powers that, until the Constitution Act, 1867 came into effect, belonged to the offices of the Attorney General and Solicitor General in the provinces of Canada and Upper Canada and which, under the provisions of that Act, are within the scope of the powers of the Legislature;

(e) shall advise the Government upon all matters of law connected with legislative enactments and upon all matters of law referred to him or her by the Government;

(f) shall advise the Government upon all matters of a legislative nature and superintend all Government measures of a legislative nature;

(g) shall advise the heads of the ministries and agencies of Government upon all matters of law connected with such ministries and agencies;

(h) shall conduct and regulate all litigation for and against the Crown or any ministry or agency of Government in respect of any subject within the authority or jurisdiction of the Legislature;

(i) shall superintend all matters connected with judicial offices;

(j) shall perform such other functions as are assigned to him or her by the Legislature or by the Lieutenant Governor in Council. R.S.O. 1990, c. M.17, s. 5.

Designation of ministerial legal officers as employees of Ministry

6.The Lieutenant Governor in Council may designate any employee in any ministry or agency of Government who is a member of the bar of Ontario to be an employee of the Ministry and thereupon such employee becomes an employee of the Ministry. R.S.O. 1990, c. M.17, s. 6.

Annual report

7.The Attorney General after the close of each year shall submit to the Lieutenant Governor in Council an annual report upon the affairs of the Ministry and shall then lay the report before the Assembly if it is in session or, if not, at the next ensuing session. R.S.O. 1990, c. M.17, s. 7.

8.Repealed: 2000, c. 26, Sched. A, s. 11.

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