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SDG Counties has announced the closure of its two satellite Provincial Offences Act (POA) courts in Morrisburg and Alexandria. These locations have remained unused since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic.

POA courts handle federal, provincial, and municipal court matters that are ticketed and not covered by the Criminal Code of Canada. This includes offences such as speeding and municipal bylaw violations. According to Rebecca Russell, the director of finance for SDG, there have been no proceedings in the satellite courts since the pandemic started, and it is unlikely that they will reopen.

A recent report to SDG council revealed that prior to the pandemic, the courts were used for only 10 days per year at each facility. The annual cost of leasing the Morrisburg court space is ,250, while the Alexandria location costs ,500.

The main POA court in Cornwall, which is operated by SDG Counties, was upgraded in 2021 to allow virtual participation through platforms like Zoom. The report stated that the satellite courts would need to undergo modernization before they can be reopened.

Although previous council terms fought to keep the satellite courts open, councillors in the recent meeting agreed not to renew the leases. Warden Tony Fraser acknowledged that this decision would bring about a significant change.

Despite the closure of the satellite courts, it is unclear whether the criminal courts, which have resumed in Morrisburg and Alexandria, will be affected. Ministry of the Attorney General officials have confirmed that operations at those two locations have returned to pre-pandemic levels.

The lease for the Morrisburg court space will expire on December 31, 2023, while the Alexandria court lease will end on May 31, 2024.

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