Mr. Richard Chaloner

Richard Chaloner provides a comprehensive account of his career in Ontario’s justice system, spanning from 1963 to 1991. Beginning as a Crown Attorney in Barrie and later Guelph, he rose through the ranks to become Regional Crown Attorney, Director of Crown Attorneys, and ultimately Deputy Attorney General. His interviews detail the evolution of the Crown Attorney system from politically-appointed positions to merit-based selection, his leadership role in securing better compensation for Crown Attorneys through the famous Peat Marwick study, and his involvement in major policy initiatives including court reform and the Support and Custody Orders Programme.

Chaloner offers unique insights into the transformation of the Ministry of the Attorney General under multiple governments, from Bill Davis through Bob Peterson to Bob Rae. He describes working relationships with Attorneys General Roy McMurtry, Ian Scott, and Howard Hampton, providing candid assessments of their leadership styles and policy approaches. His account includes detailed coverage of major legislative initiatives such as the Freedom of Information Act, court reform that merged different levels of courts, and the challenges posed by the Askov decision on court delays.

The interviews reveal significant administrative modernization during Chaloner’s tenure, including the introduction of executive assistants, regional management structures, and early adoption of information technology. He provides valuable perspectives on the political dynamics within government, the relationship between civil servants and ministers, and the ongoing challenges of balancing judicial independence with administrative efficiency in Ontario’s court system.

This description was written by AI and may contain some inaccuracies.