# Ministry of the Solicitor General (Ontario)

The Ministry of the Solicitor General (French: Ministère du Solliciteur général; formerly known as the Ministry of Community Safety and Correctional Services) is the ministry in the Government of Ontario responsible for public security, law enforcement and policing, emergency management, correctional and detention centres/jails and organizations such as the Ontario Provincial Police, Emergency Management Ontario, and the Office of the Fire Marshal.
The minister responsible is Michael Kerzner, Solicitor General of Ontario.

## History
### Law enforcement and public safety

Prior to 1972, the Attorney General and the Department of Justice had carriage of the responsibility for policing and public safety in the province.
The Ministry of the Solicitor General was established in 1972. Although there was no solicitor general of Ontario prior to 1972, one did exist for both the Province of Upper Canada (1791–1840) and the Province of Canada (1841–1867). With the re-organization of the Government of Ontario in 1972, however, this long-dormant office was re-established.

### Correctional services

The Board of Inspectors of Asylums and Prisons, first appointed in 1859, was charged with general superintendence of the United Provinces' (i.e. Canada East/Quebec and Canada West/Ontario) 61 public institutions. These included 52 common gaols, the largest single type of institution, 4 lunatic asylums, 2 hospitals, 2 reformatory prisons, and one large penitentiary. Five inspectors were appointed and each one assigned an inspection district.
After Confederation, the Prisons and Asylums Inspection Act was passed on March 4, 1868. It vested control of all the above types of institutions located in Ontario, 49 in total, in the Office of the Inspector of Prisons and Asylums in the Department of the Provincial Secretary. On June 20, 1868, J.W. Langmuir was appointed first incumbent of the office.
In 1876, this office was renamed the Office of the Inspector of Prisons and Public Charities, and it became part of the Treasury Department. It was reverted to the Department of the Provincial Secretary in 1883. In addition to prisons, the office was also responsible for the superintendence of various public institutions that served social service functions, such as orphanages, houses of refuge, asylums for the insane, and hospitals. By 1925, the Inspector and his staff were responsible for superintending 380 institutions. Between 1927 and 1934, the provincial government gradually reduced the inspectorial functions and reassigned them to more specialized departments. For example, administration of charitable institutions was transferred to the newly created Department of Public Welfare in September 1930, and the responsibility for hospitals and sanatoria was transferred to the Department of Health in October 1930.
In 1934, the former Inspection Branch of the Provincial Secretary's Department became the Reformatory and Prisons Branch, the only Branch from the former inspectorate to remain in the Provincial Secretary's Department.
In 1946, the branch was elevated to department status, becoming the Department of Reform Institutions in the cabinet of Premier George Drew. The first minister was George Dunbar, whose first act was to create six work farms around the province. In the following decade, the development of its administrative structure reflected the evolution from punitive custody to correctional services. In 1954, a director of rehabilitation, chief parole and rehabilitation officer, and a chief psychologist were added, followed by a director of neurology and psychiatry in 1955. Other offices and services created within the department included the director of social work and the chaplaincy services.
On July 1, 1968, the department was renamed the Department of Correctional Services. The first minister was Allan Grossman, who said the change was made to update the service to reflect changes in attitudes to penal institutions. Prison guards were issued new uniforms that removed aspects of militarism from their appearance.
With the April 1972 reorganization of the Ontario government, the Department of Correctional Services was renamed the Ministry of Correctional Services. It took over the responsibility for probation services in 1972 from the Ministry of the Attorney General. In 1977, the Children's Services Division was transferred to the Ministry of Community and Social Services. In 1984, with the passage of the federal Young Offenders Act, the ministry assumed responsibility for detention and parole of young offenders aged 16 and 17.

### Merger of the two functions

The Ministry of the Solicitor General and Correctional Services was formed on February 3, 1993, from the merger of the Ministry of the Solicitor General with the Ministry of Correctional Services. The two functions were separated again between 1999 and 2002.
In April 2002, the two functions merged again, and the newly created ministry was renamed as the Ministry of Public Safety and Security. This was done in the aftermath of the 2001 terrorist attacks. The new ministry encompassed correctional services as well as a new emphasis on border security. In 2003, the ministry was renamed to the Ministry of Community Safety and Correctional Services. In April 2019, the solicitor general role was re-introduced, and the ministry's name was reverted to the Ministry of the Solicitor General.

### Security guard and private investigator licensing

In 2010, the ministry began to administer tests for new applicants and existing security guard or private investigator cardholders. Prior to 2010, any individual (as long as they were free, or pardoned, of a criminal charge) could obtain one or both licences just by paying 80 dollars for each. The new requirements came after a coroner's inquest into the death of Patrick Shand, who died from asphyxiation while in the custody of an untrained private security guard and staff at a Loblaws store in Scarborough. Despite the store chain's policy of prohibiting use of force against shoplifters, Shand was restrained and handcuffed. Shand remained handcuffed when staff had to perform CPR after the former went into respiratory arrest. The handcuffs were not removed until Shand was placed in an ambulance 18 minutes after the 911 call was made.
In response to the inquest's recommendations, applicants for security guard or private investigator licences must pass a 40-hour training course before writing a test. 62.5% is a passing grade for security guards and 77% for private investigators.

## List of solicitors-general

The position of Solicitor-General dates back to the foundation of Upper Canada, and also Canada West in the Province of Ontario, the predecessors to the current province of Ontario.

### Upper Canada

* Robert Isaac Dey Gray 1795–1804
* G. D'Arcy Boulton 1804–1814
* Sir John Beverley Robinson 1815–1818
* Henry John Boulton 1818–1829
* Christopher Alexander Hagerman 1829–1837
* William Henry Draper 1837–1839

### Canada West

* Robert Baldwin, February 10, 1841 – June 14, 1841
* Henry Sherwood, July 23, 1842 – September 16, 1842
* James Edward Small, September 26, 1842 – December 11, 1843
* Henry Sherwood, October 7, 1844 – June 30, 1846
* John Hillyard Cameron, July 1, 1846 – March 10, 1848
* William Hume Blake, April 22, 1848 – September 30, 1849
* John Sandfield Macdonald, December 14, 1849 – November 11, 1851
* John Ross, November 12, 1851 – June 21, 1853
* Joseph Curran Morrison, June 22, 1853 – September 10, 1854
* Henry Smith, September 11, 1854 – February 24, 1858
* George Skeffington Connor, August 2, 1858 – August 6, 1858
* J.C. Morrison, February 22, 1860 – March 17, 1862
* James Patton, March 27, 1862 – May 23, 1862
* Adam Wilson, May 24, 1862 – May 10, 1863
* Lewis Wallbridge, May 16, 1863 – August 12, 1863
* Albert Norton Richards, December 26, 1863 – January 30, 1863
* James Cockburn, March 30, 1864 – June 30, 1867

### Ontario

| | Name | Term of office | Term of office | Name | Term of office | Term of office | Political party (Ministry) | Note |
| | Ministers of Reform Institutions | Ministers of Reform Institutions | Ministers of Reform Institutions | (Public safety/policing was part of the portfolio of the Attorney General and the Department of Justice prior to 1972.) | PC (Drew) | |
| | George Dunbar | 15 April 1946 | 19 October 1948 | (Public safety/policing was part of the portfolio of the Attorney General and the Department of Justice prior to 1972.) | |
| 19 October 1948 | George Dunbar | 4 May 1949 | PC (Kennedy) | (Public safety/policing was part of the portfolio of the Attorney General and the Department of Justice prior to 1972.) | |
| 4 May 1949 | George Dunbar | 15 July 1949 | PC (Frost) | (Public safety/policing was part of the portfolio of the Attorney General and the Department of Justice prior to 1972.) | |
| | William Hamilton | 15 July 1949 | 16 November 1950 | (Public safety/policing was part of the portfolio of the Attorney General and the Department of Justice prior to 1972.) | |
| | John Foote | 16 November 1950 | 18 July 1957 | (Public safety/policing was part of the portfolio of the Attorney General and the Department of Justice prior to 1972.) | |
| | Matthew Dymond | 18 July 1957 | 28 April 1958 | (Public safety/policing was part of the portfolio of the Attorney General and the Department of Justice prior to 1972.) | |
| | Ray Connell | 28 April 1958 | 22 December 1958 | (Public safety/policing was part of the portfolio of the Attorney General and the Department of Justice prior to 1972.) | |
| | George Wardrope | 22 December 1958 | 8 November 1961 | (Public safety/policing was part of the portfolio of the Attorney General and the Department of Justice prior to 1972.) | |
| | Irwin Haskett | 8 November 1961 | 14 August 1963 | (Public safety/policing was part of the portfolio of the Attorney General and the Department of Justice prior to 1972.) | PC (Robarts) | |
| | Allan Grossman | 14 August 1963 | 1 July 1968 | (Public safety/policing was part of the portfolio of the Attorney General and the Department of Justice prior to 1972.) | |
| | Minister of Correctional Services | Minister of Correctional Services | Minister of Correctional Services | (Public safety/policing was part of the portfolio of the Attorney General and the Department of Justice prior to 1972.) | |
| | Allan Grossman | 1 July 1968 | 1 March 1971 | (Public safety/policing was part of the portfolio of the Attorney General and the Department of Justice prior to 1972.) | |
| | Syl Apps | 1 March 1971 | 26 February 1974 | Solicitor General | Solicitor General | Solicitor General | PC (Davis) | |
| | Syl Apps | 1 March 1971 | 26 February 1974 | John Yaremko | 7 April 1972 | 26 February 1974 | |
| | Richard Potter | 26 February 1974 | 7 October 1975 | George Albert Kerr | 26 February 1974 | 18 June 1975 | Kerr resigned pending investigation of bribery allegation. Kerr later returned to cabinet as the investigation found no grounds to warrant charges. |
| | Richard Potter | 26 February 1974 | 7 October 1975 | John Clement (interim) | 18 June 1975 | 7 October 1975 | |
| | John Smith | 7 October 1975 | 3 February 1977 | John Palmer MacBeth | 7 October 1975 | 21 January 1978 | MacBeth concurrently served as Provincial Secretary for Justice (October 7, 1975 – January 21, 1978) while being Solicitor General. |
| | Arthur Meen | 3 February 1977 | 23 June 1977 | John Palmer MacBeth | 7 October 1975 | 21 January 1978 | MacBeth concurrently served as Provincial Secretary for Justice (October 7, 1975 – January 21, 1978) while being Solicitor General. |
| | John MacBeth (interim) | 23 June 1977 | 21 September 1977 | John Palmer MacBeth | 7 October 1975 | 21 January 1978 | MacBeth concurrently served as Provincial Secretary for Justice (October 7, 1975 – January 21, 1978) while being Solicitor General. |
| | Frank Drea | 21 September 1977 | 18 October 1978 | John Palmer MacBeth | 7 October 1975 | 21 January 1978 | MacBeth concurrently served as Provincial Secretary for Justice (October 7, 1975 – January 21, 1978) while being Solicitor General. |
| | Frank Drea | 21 September 1977 | 18 October 1978 | George Albert Kerr | 21 January 1978 | 11 September 1978 | Kerr concurrently served as Provincial Secretary for Justice. |
| | Frank Drea | 21 September 1977 | 18 October 1978 | Roy McMurtry | 11 June 1978 | 13 February 1982 | McMurtry concurrently served as Attorney General. |
| | Gordon Walker | 18 October 1978 | 10 April 1981 | Roy McMurtry | 11 June 1978 | 13 February 1982 | Walker concurrently served as Provincial Secretary for Justice (August 30, 1979 – February 13, 1982) |
| | Nick Leluk | 10 April 1981 | 8 February 1985 | Roy McMurtry | 11 June 1978 | 13 February 1982 | |
| | Nick Leluk | 10 April 1981 | 8 February 1985 | George William Taylor | 13 February 1982 | 8 February 1985 | |
| | Nick Leluk | 8 February 1985 | 1 May 1985 | John Reesor Williams | 8 February 1985 | 17 May 1985 | PC (Miller) | |
| | Don Cousens | 17 May 1985 | 26 June 1985 | Bud Gregory | 17 May 1985 | 26 June 1985 | |
| | Solicitor General and Minister of Correctional Services | Solicitor General and Minister of Correctional Services | Solicitor General and Minister of Correctional Services | Solicitor General and Minister of Correctional Services | Solicitor General and Minister of Correctional Services | Solicitor General and Minister of Correctional Services | Liberal (Peterson) | |
| | Ken Keyes | Ken Keyes | Ken Keyes | Ken Keyes | 26 June 1985 | 3 December 1986 | Keyes stepped down as Solicitor General during investigation of an instance of him sharing an alcoholic drink with police officers on a police boat. |
| | Minister of Correctional Services | Minister of Correctional Services | Minister of Correctional Services | Solicitor General | Solicitor General | Solicitor General | |
| | Ken Keyes | 3 December 1986 | 9 January 1987 | Ian Scott (interim) | 3 February 1986 | 9 January 1987 | |
| | Solicitor General and Minister of Correctional Services | Solicitor General and Minister of Correctional Services | Solicitor General and Minister of Correctional Services | Solicitor General and Minister of Correctional Services | Solicitor General and Minister of Correctional Services | Solicitor General and Minister of Correctional Services | |
| | Ken Keyes | Ken Keyes | Ken Keyes | Ken Keyes | 9 January 1987 | 29 September 1987 | |
| | Minister of Correctional Services | Minister of Correctional Services | Minister of Correctional Services | Solicitor General | Solicitor General | Solicitor General | |
| | David Ramsay | 29 September 1987 | 2 August 1989 | Joan Smith | 29 September 1987 | 6 June 1989 | Smith resigned due to allegation of improper contact to the police while Solicitor General. |
| | Richard Patten | 2 August 1989 | 1 October 1990 | Ian Scott (interim) | 6 June 1989 | 2 August 1989 | |
| | Richard Patten | 2 August 1989 | 1 October 1990 | Steven Offer | 2 August 1989 | 1 October 1990 | |
| | Solicitor General and Minister of Correctional Services | Solicitor General and Minister of Correctional Services | Solicitor General and Minister of Correctional Services | Solicitor General and Minister of Correctional Services | Solicitor General and Minister of Correctional Services | Solicitor General and Minister of Correctional Services | NDP (Rae) | |
| | Mike Farnan | Mike Farnan | Mike Farnan | Mike Farnan | 1 October 1990 | 31 July 1991 | |
| | Allan Pilkey | Allan Pilkey | Allan Pilkey | Allan Pilkey | 31 July 1991 | 23 September 1992 | |
| | Minister of Correctional Services | Minister of Correctional Services | Minister of Correctional Services | Solicitor General | Solicitor General | Solicitor General | |
| | David Christopherson | 23 September 1992 | 3 February 1993 | Allan Pilkey | 23 September 1992 | 3 February 1993 | |
| | Solicitor General and Minister of Correctional Services | Solicitor General and Minister of Correctional Services | Solicitor General and Minister of Correctional Services | Solicitor General and Minister of Correctional Services | Solicitor General and Minister of Correctional Services | Solicitor General and Minister of Correctional Services | |
| | David Christopherson | David Christopherson | David Christopherson | David Christopherson | 3 February 1993 | 26 June 1995 | |
| | Bob Runciman | Bob Runciman | Bob Runciman | Bob Runciman | 26 June 1995 | 27 April 1998 | PC (Harris) | Runciman resigned for ministerial responsibility after a young offender's name was inappropriately revealed in the Speech from the Throne. |
| | Jim Flaherty (interim) | Jim Flaherty (interim) | Jim Flaherty (interim) | Jim Flaherty (interim) | 27 April 1998 | 27 July 1998 | |
| | Bob Runciman | Bob Runciman | Bob Runciman | Bob Runciman | 27 July 1998 | 17 June 1999 | |
| | Minister of Correctional Services | Minister of Correctional Services | Minister of Correctional Services | Solicitor General | Solicitor General | Solicitor General | |
| | Rob Sampson | 17 June 1999 | 4 December 2000 | David Tsubouchi | 17 June 1999 | 8 February 2001 | Sampson resigned for ministerial responsibility after a government backbencher improperly revealed names of several young offenders in the legislature. |
| | Norm Sterling (interim) | 5 December 2000 | 8 March 2001 | David Tsubouchi | 17 June 1999 | 8 February 2001 | |
| | Rob Sampson | 8 March 2001 | 14 April 2002 | David Turnbull | 8 February 2001 | 14 April 2002 | |
| | Minister of Public Safety and Security | Minister of Public Safety and Security | Minister of Public Safety and Security | Minister of Public Safety and Security | Minister of Public Safety and Security | Minister of Public Safety and Security | PC (Eves) | |
| | Bob Runciman | Bob Runciman | Bob Runciman | Bob Runciman | 15 April 2002 | 22 October 2003 | |
| | Minister of Community Safety and Correctional Services | Minister of Community Safety and Correctional Services | Minister of Community Safety and Correctional Services | Minister of Community Safety and Correctional Services | Minister of Community Safety and Correctional Services | Minister of Community Safety and Correctional Services | Liberal (McGuinty) | |
| | Monte Kwinter | Monte Kwinter | Monte Kwinter | Monte Kwinter | 23 October 2003 | 30 October 2007 | |
| | Rick Bartolucci | Rick Bartolucci | Rick Bartolucci | Rick Bartolucci | 30 October 2007 | 18 August 2010 | |
| | Jim Bradley | Jim Bradley | Jim Bradley | Jim Bradley | 18 August 2010 | 20 October 2011 | |
| | Madeleine Meilleur | 20 October 2011 | 11 February 2013 | |
| | Madeleine Meilleur | 11 February 2013 | 25 March 2014 | | Liberal (Wynne) |
| | Yasir Naqvi | Yasir Naqvi | Yasir Naqvi | Yasir Naqvi | 25 March 2014 | 13 June 2016 | |
| | David Orazietti | David Orazietti | David Orazietti | David Orazietti | 13 June 2016 | 16 December 2016 | |
| | Kevin Flynn (acting) | Kevin Flynn (acting) | Kevin Flynn (acting) | Kevin Flynn (acting) | 16 December 2016 | 12 January 2017 | |
| | Marie-France Lalonde | Marie-France Lalonde | Marie-France Lalonde | Marie-France Lalonde | 12 January 2017 | 29 June 2018 | |
| | Michael Tibollo | Michael Tibollo | Michael Tibollo | Michael Tibollo | 29 June 2018 | 5 November 2018 | PC (Ford) |
| | Sylvia Jones | Sylvia Jones | Sylvia Jones | Sylvia Jones | 5 November 2018 | 4 April 2019 | |
| | Solicitor General | Solicitor General | Solicitor General | Solicitor General | Solicitor General | Solicitor General |
| | Sylvia Jones | Sylvia Jones | Sylvia Jones | Sylvia Jones | 4 April 2019 | 24 June 2022 | |
| | Michael Kerzner | Michael Kerzner | Michael Kerzner | Michael Kerzner | 24 June 2022 | Present | |