Provincial Offences Court

Provincial Offences

Effective November 15, 1999 the Corporation of the Town of Espanola assumed responsibility for the delivery of administrative, prosecutorial and court support functions transferred from the Province of Ontario under the Provincial Offences Act. These functions have become part of the Espanola Court Service Agreement. The Provincial Offences Act sets out the processes to be followed for administering and prosecuting charges laid by police and other enforcement agencies under provincial statutes and municipal by-laws.

The Espanola Provincial Offences Court office is located at 100 Tudhope Street, Suite 4, administration office and court room are on the 2nd floor.

Christine Labelle is the Manager of Court Services.

Payment of Fines

Online (A $3.00 fee applies)
By clicking on the Paytickets logo making payment via VISA® or MasterCard®
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By Mail
Certified cheque, money order, bank draft, VISA® or MasterCard®
Provincial Offences Court
100 Tudhope Street, Suite 4
Espanola,ON  P5E 1S6

In Person
Cash, debit card, VISA®, MasterCard®, certified cheque, money order or bank draft
Provincial Offences Court
100 Tudhope Street, Suite 4
Espanola,ON  P5E 1S6

All cheques should be made payable to the Town of Espanola.

Monday to Friday between the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. 

Provincial Offences Defaulted Fine Collection

On November 15, 1999, the responsibility for the collection of fines in default under the Provincial Offences Act (i.e. Highway Traffic Act, Liquor Licence Act, Environment Protection Act, etc.) was devolved to the Town of Espanola, along with the administration and prosecution of charges laid by police and other enforcement agencies under provincial statutes and municipal by-laws.

If a fine remains unpaid and goes into default, the Provincial Offences Collection Office will pursue collection activity against the offender. Some of these activities may include notification to Credit Reporting Agencies, Driver's Licence/Plate suspension, and if required, pursuing civil enforcement action (i.e. Garnishment of Wages/Bank Account, Writs of Seizure & Sale, Personal Writs).

Other services offered by the POA Collection Office include payment processing of default fines, establishing payment arrangements, and remitting applications for Motions of Extension of Time to Pay, etc.

The Provincial Offences Collection office is located at 100 Tudhope Street, Suite 4, Espanola, ON P5E 1S6. The office hours are Monday to Friday from 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. For telephone inquiries please contact 705-862-7875. You can also email us at: This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

On November 22nd, 1999 the administration of the Provincial Offences Act for the Espanola Court Service Area was downloaded from the Province to the Town of Espanola.

The Provincial Offences Act contains the Rules of Procedure governing Provincial Statutes as well as several minor Federal offences.

The court service area is comprised of the Town of Espanola, The Township of Nairn-Hyman, the Township of Baldwin and the Township of Sables Spanish River.

In June 2000 The Espanola Court Services Area began the administration functions for the Elliot Lake and Blind River Court Service areas. The Court Service Area includes the City of Elliot Lake, The Town of Blind River, The Township of North Shore and The Township of Shedden.

Location and Hours of Operation:
The Provincial Offences office, for both court service areas, is located in the Espanola Municipal Office on the 2nd floor at 100 Tudhope Street. The hours of operation are from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. - Monday to Friday.

Arrangements for Option 2 (Guilty with explanation) and Option 3 (Trial Date Request) are made through the office.

Services:
The Town of Espanola provides Prosecution services for Part 1 tickets and Courtroom Clerk/Monitor services for Part 1 and all Provincial Offences Courts held in the Town of Espanola Court Service area and the Elliot Lake Court Service Area.

The Town of Espanola also has an office for a Justice of the Peace who will entertain Walk in Guilty Pleas, etc. Tuesdays of each week. (This should be confirmed by calling the court office prior to attending).

In the Elliot Lake Court Service Area a Justice of the Peace is available most Thursdays from 10 am to 12 noon in Elliot Lake at 200 Ontario Avenue and 1:00 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. in Blind River at 15 Hudson Street. (This should be confirmed by calling the court office at (705) 862-7875 prior to attending).

ImageFreedom of Information Department

Mandate:
The Municipal Freedom of Information Department is responsible for providing a centralized approach to handling access requests and a decentralized approach to implementing the privacy provisions of the Municipal Freedom of Information and Privacy Act.

The Municipal Freedom of Information and Protection to Privacy Act, 1987 applies to Ontario's municipalities, boards, and most commissions, as well as community colleges and districts of health councils.

The Act requires that the institution protect the privacy of an individual's personal information existing in institutional records. It also gives individuals the right of access to the institution's information, including most general records and records containing their own personal information.

Privacy Protection:
The Act creates a privacy protection scheme which the institution must follow to protect an individual's right to privacy. The scheme includes rules regarding the collection, retention, use, disclosure and disposal of personal information in its custody or control.

If an individual feels his or her privacy has been compromised by an institution governed by the Act, he or she may complain to the Information and Privacy Commissioner who will investigate the complaint.

The Act also gives individuals the right to correct their personal information or attach a statement of disagreement.


Access:
If you want access to an institution's records, begin by contacting the department or agency that has the information. If access is denied, make a written request under the Act. All records are available except records that fall within the mandatory or discretionary exemptions to access information set out in the Act.

Mandatory Exemptions requires an institution to refuse to disclose a record.
The list includes:

Cabinet Records;

Third Party information if supplied in confidence and where disclosure could prejudice the interests of a third party;

  • Personal information about individuals other than the requester;
  • Discretionary Exemptions allow an institution to decide whether it should disclose the requested record. The list includes:
  • Information about inter-government relations, if the information was received in confidence;
  • Advice or recommendations within the institution;
  • Law enforcement;
  • Defence;
  • Information, which could prejudice the financial, or other specified interests of the institution;
  • Solicitor-client privilege;
  • Information, which could endanger the health or safety of an individual;
  • Information already available to the public or soon to published.
  • Institution Responsibilities:
  • Design and implement records systems, which adequately protect personal privacy;
  • Assist in locating records requested;
  • Within 30 days of receipt of a request, make records available, deny access or cite extraordinary circumstances resulting in delay;
  • Given written reason for denial;

Information the person is being denied access of his or her right to appeal to the information and Privacy Commissioner/Ontario within the 30 days of receiving the government response.

Further information is available from the office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner at the following address:

Information and Privacy Commissioner
80 Bloor Street West, Suite 1700
Toronto, Ontario  M5S 2V1

Toronto: 416.326.3333  Toll Free: 1.800.387.0073

Operational Hours:
The Freedom on Information office hours are:

Monday-Friday 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. [with the exception of Statutory Holidays]

Fees For Service:
The following fees are applicable to the Town of Espanola:


Personal Information:
[means recorded information about an identifiable individual

Application Fee (must accompany request) $5.00
Photocopying (per page) .20
Computer Programming $15.00
(per ¼ hour if needed to develop program to retrieve information)

[Should your estimate be $100.00 or more, you may be required to pay a 50% deposit]
General Information:
[a record or part of a record in the custody or under the control of an institution whether in printed form, on film, electronic means or otherwise]

Application Fee (must accompany request) $5.00
Search Time (per ¼ hour required to search and retrieve records) $7.50
Record Preparation $7.50
(per ¼ hour required to prepare records for release)
Photocopying .20
Computer Programming $15.00
(per ¼ hour if needed to develop a program to retrieve information)
Floppy Discs (per disc) $10.00

[Should your estimate be $100.00 or more, you may be required to pay a 50% deposit]

Contact / Questions/ Comments:
Additional information may be received from the Freedom of Information Officer at:

The Town of Espanola
Attention: Freedom of Information Officer
c/o Clerk Treasurer / Administrator
100 Tudhope Street, Suite 2
Espanola, Ontario  P5E 1S6

Phone: 705.869.1540
Fax: 705.869.0083