If passed, the bill would modernize and streamline Ontario's justice system, said Attorney General Michael Bryant.

"We're providing more flexibility and more access to the system," Bryant said.

The bill would require aspiring justices of the peace to attain a university degree or college diploma and have 10 years' work experience.

Paralegals would have to complete an approved college program and pass a licensing exam under the legislation, and electronically published laws would be official.

By allowing witnesses to testify through video conferencing, the costs and time spent for police to testify at a trial would be reduced, thereby easing pressure on the province's clogged courts, Bryant said.

But New Democrat justice critic Peter Kormos said the bill doesn't deal directly with the key issue facing courts right now, which is an ever-growing backlog in criminal and family courts.

Nor does the bill address the fact Crown attorneys are accepting plea bargains in a bid to get a case off the docket quickly, he added.

"Crown Attorneys are understaffed, under-resourced, there aren't enough judges, aren't enough courtrooms, aren't enough Crown attorneys, aren't enough cops," Kormos said.

In addition to requiring minimum qualifications for a justice of the peace, the legislation would create a complaints and discipline process. There's been several instances in recent years where actions by justices of the peace have been criticized and questioned, but there's been little recourse for review.

"I think most people would be surprised that you don't even need a high school diploma to become a justice of the peace in the province of Ontario," Bryant said.

"I think people expect there to be minimal qualifications for a station of such importance."

Justices of the peace can issue search warrants, preside over bail hearings and issue subpoenas requiring people to attend court. Proponents assert that video conferencing technology will help reduce court backlogs and that video conferencing should be implemented first before any other major changes take effect.