A joint Toronto Star/Ryerson School of Journalism investigation reveals how Ontario’s jury system excludes many poorer, non-white prospective jurors and asks candidates to serve for less than minimum wage — making justice less representative for defendants.
Can you afford jury duty? Here’s what you need to know about how Ontario’s system compares to the rest of Canada:
ONTARIO
Which database is used to select a prospective jury list?
Names are drawn from municipal property assessment lists, obtained from the Municipal Property Assessment Corporation.
How much are jurors paid?
The first 10 days are unpaid. Jurors receive $40 a day for days 11 to 49, and $100 a day after that.
What expenses are covered?
Only jurors who live outside the city in which the courthouse is located are paid a daily travel expense.
There is no allowance for parking, meals, transit and child-care expenses.
What about job security?
Employers must grant a leave of absence for jury duty, but are not required to pay.
QUEBEC
Which database is used to select a prospective jury list?
Jury lists are chosen at random from the provincial voters’ list.
How much are jurors paid?
Jurors receive $103 for each day or half-day of service. That rate increases to $160 on the 57th day after the jury is formed. Jurors receive more if proceedings take place outside normal working hours.
What expenses are covered?
Jurors are reimbursed for travel, parking, meal and accommodation expenses. Judges can decide on allowances for child care and psychological therapy.
What about job security?
Employers must grant a leave of absence for jury duty, but are not required to pay.
BRITISH COLUMBIA
Which database is used to select a prospective jury list?
Names are selected randomly from the provincial voters’ list.
How much are jurors paid?
Jurors receive $20 a day for the first 10 days, a rate that increases to $60 on day 11, and rises to $100 a day on day 51.
What expenses are covered?
Tea and coffee are provided. Travel expenses may be reimbursed.
What about job security?
Employers must grant a leave of absence for jury duty, but are not required to pay.
SASKATCHEWAN
Which database is used to select a prospective jury list?
Names are selected randomly from provincial health records database.
How much are jurors paid?
Jurors receive $80 for each day or partial-day of service.
What expenses are covered?
A juror may be compensated for travel, accommodation, meal and parking expenses.
What about job security?
Employers must grant a leave of absence for jury duty, but are not required to pay.
Can you afford jury duty? Here’s what you need to know about how Ontario’s system compares to the rest of Canada:
ONTARIO
Which database is used to select a prospective jury list?
Names are drawn from municipal property assessment lists, obtained from the Municipal Property Assessment Corporation.
How much are jurors paid?
The first 10 days are unpaid. Jurors receive $40 a day for days 11 to 49, and $100 a day after that.
What expenses are covered?
Only jurors who live outside the city in which the courthouse is located are paid a daily travel expense.
There is no allowance for parking, meals, transit and child-care expenses.
What about job security?
Employers must grant a leave of absence for jury duty, but are not required to pay.
QUEBEC
Which database is used to select a prospective jury list?
Jury lists are chosen at random from the provincial voters’ list.
How much are jurors paid?
Jurors receive $103 for each day or half-day of service. That rate increases to $160 on the 57th day after the jury is formed. Jurors receive more if proceedings take place outside normal working hours.
What expenses are covered?
Jurors are reimbursed for travel, parking, meal and accommodation expenses. Judges can decide on allowances for child care and psychological therapy.
What about job security?
Employers must grant a leave of absence for jury duty, but are not required to pay.
BRITISH COLUMBIA
Which database is used to select a prospective jury list?
Names are selected randomly from the provincial voters’ list.
How much are jurors paid?
Jurors receive $20 a day for the first 10 days, a rate that increases to $60 on day 11, and rises to $100 a day on day 51.
What expenses are covered?
Tea and coffee are provided. Travel expenses may be reimbursed.
What about job security?
Employers must grant a leave of absence for jury duty, but are not required to pay.
SASKATCHEWAN
Which database is used to select a prospective jury list?
Names are selected randomly from provincial health records database.
How much are jurors paid?
Jurors receive $80 for each day or partial-day of service.
What expenses are covered?
A juror may be compensated for travel, accommodation, meal and parking expenses.
What about job security?
Employers must grant a leave of absence for jury duty, but are not required to pay.