Paralegal / Agent
Appearance by defendant
Section 50 of the Provincial Offences Act (1) A defendant may appear and act personally or by counsel or agent. R.S.O. 1990, c. P.33, s. 50 (1).
Note: Effective May 1, 2007, subsection (1) is amended by the Statutes of Ontario, 2006, chapter 21, Schedule C, subsection 131 (7) by striking out “by counsel or agent” and substituting “by representative”. See: 2006, c. 21, Sched. C, ss. 131 (7), 138 (2).
This allows a person to represent you in a court with your authorization. As of May 1, 2007, the Ontario Government is regulating all paralegals. You should ensure the paralegal you are talking with will be regulated as they fall within the criteria and that they have experience not only with years of defense representation but also enforcement time. Both will bode well for you. Highway Traffic Agent meet the criteria and are encouraged that unreliable companies and agent will be held to a higher standard and not just "buyer beware."
