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Latest Ontario OHS Prosecution Statistics

The Ontario Ministry of Labour (MOL) recently updated various statistics related to its enforcement of the OHS laws. The statistics are current through the end of the 2013/14 fiscal year (March 31, 2014).

Highlights:

  • The number of convictions has been dropping since 2008/09, when there were 1,303. In comparison, there were only 780 for 2013/14.
  • The average fine per conviction for 2013/14 was $11,932. Seems pretty low, doesn’t it’ That’s because the data includes Part I contested tickets, Part I summonses and Part III prosecutions. Because the penalties for tickets and summonses are much lower than for full prosecutions, they drag the average down. (Read this 2012 report by two Ontario OHS lawyers on which cases generally result in higher fines.)

Data in the tables below for 1996-2004 is listed by calendar year, while data for 2005-2014 is listed by fiscal year (April 1 – March 31).

Number of Convictions and Amount of Fines Per Year: 1997-2002

Convictions/Fines 1997 1999 1998 2000 2001 2002
Number of Convictions 313 309 283 333 287 459
Amount of Fines $3,746,893 $6,545,260 $4,582,638 $5,155,775 $7,300,715 $9,157,860

 

Number of Convictions and Amount of Fines Per Year: 2003-2009

Convictions/Fines 2003 2004 2005/06 2006/07 2007/08 2008/09
Number of Convictions 618 386 326 856 1,191 1,303
Amount of Fines $7,115,725 $6,292,835 $6,069,251 $8,821,380 $12,007,535 $14,136,060

 

Number of Convictions and Amount of Fines Per Year: 2009-2014

Convictions/Fines 2009/10 2010/11 2011/12 2012/13 2013/14
Number of Convictions 1,164 948 903 814 780
Amount of Fines $12,909,435 $11,291,560 $9,771,230 $10,695,290 $9,307,130