The Ontario New Democratic Party is calling for change after nearly 340,000 Highway Traffic Act (HTA) cases were dropped before going to trial last year.
Statistics Canada recently revealed that between April 2024 and March 2025, more than 13 per cent of all HTA cases were dropped at or before going before the courts.
On Monday, NDP Justice Critic Kristyn Wong-Tam pointed to the recent figures and stated that due to chronic underfunding and administrative mismanagement as well as growing case backlogs under the Ontario government, “dangerous drivers” are getting “off the hook”.
Some of the 338,293 offenses withdrawn include nearly 9,000 careless driving charges, 9,032 driving while under suspension charges as well as 5,464 stunt driving charges.
Wong-Tam is calling on Premier Doug Ford to invest in Ontario’s court system in order to ensure charges are processed in a more timely and effective manner.
“To reverse the mismanagement of the Ontario court system, Doug Ford needs to hire more court staff, modernize operations and direct resources in the exact places needed to run efficient and effective courts,” said Wong-Tam in a statement. “The safety of our communities depends on it.”
