The attorney general is a senior member of the Executive Council of Ontario (the cabinet) and oversees the Ministry of the Attorney General – the department responsible for the oversight of the justice system in the province of Ontario.

Doug Downey was appointed attorney general of Ontario on 20 June 2019, replacing Caroline Mulroney.

Both Ian Scott and Roy McMurtry, who were prominent courtroom lawyers before entering politics, acted for Ontario in constitutional appeals before the Supreme Court of Canada.

Marion Boyd was the only attorney general who was not a lawyer until Caroline Mulroney's appointment.

The Ministry of the Attorney General delivers and administers a wide range of justice services, including: The Ontario Crown Attorney's Office, the Office of the Public Guardian and Trustee, the Office of the Children's Lawyer (formerly called the Official Guardian), and the Special Investigations Unit (SIU) all fall within the Ministry's responsibilities.

[2][3][4] Following the 2013 release of former Supreme Court judge Frank Iacobucci's report on the relationship between Aboriginal peoples and the Ontario justice system,[5] a position of deputy attorney general with responsibility for Aboriginal issues was created.