Attorney-General Doug Downey, in a letter to the judges of the Ontario Court of Justice, said he is changing the process by which he will appoint the successor to Chief Justice Lise Maisonneuve when her eight-year term ends in May
The attorney-general has always had the responsibility of recommending a chief justice to cabinet. But in the past, the outgoing chief justice expressed their views of candidates to the attorney-general. Judges of the court who wished to share their views did so with the chief justice.
“I will personally and directly conduct discreet inquiries” on the suitability of candidates, Mr. Downey said in his letter. “It is our view that the Attorney-General is inviting members of the judiciary to compromise their ethical obligations,” she said, citing a paragraph in the federal ethical principles for judges .
Andrew Kennedy, a spokesman for Mr. Downey, said the judges’ association had not sent its letter to the minister and he could not comment on it. He said the Attorney-General’s approach relies on the same broad discretion under provincial law that previous governments have relied on. He said the government consulted the Chief Justice on the change.
The process for appointing a chief justice is not spelled out in law, except to say that it is done by cabinet on the recommendation of the attorney-general. The same holds true in Quebec, said Martine Valois, a law professor at the University of Montreal.
Canada Latest News, Canada Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Ontario auditor general finds Niagara Escarpment protections lackingThe report says there are significant areas of the Escarpment not covered by the official plan that guides Escarpment land use, and that the plan allows for development that harms endangered species’ habitats
Read more »
Ontario auditor general finds Niagara Escarpment protections lacking | Globalnews.ca'It is obvious that the commission does not have sufficient resources for environmental monitoring to assess the state of the Escarpment,' auditor general Bonnie Lysyk wrote.
Read more »
Ontario auditor general finds Niagara Escarpment protections lackingTORONTO - Ontario is not providing enough funding to allow proper protection of the Niagara Escarpment, where nearly all development permit applicatio...
Read more »
Report: Police have reasonable grounds to believe five 2018 world junior players involved in alleged sexual assault - Daily FaceoffReport: Police have reasonable grounds to believe five 2018 world junior players involved in alleged sexual assault
Read more »
ONTARIO: Staycation tax credit not permanent despite calls from industryProvince is supporting the sector in other ways, says minister of tourism, culture and sport
Read more »
Ontario and British Columbia headed for a buyer's market, RBC saysA new report says high interest rates will continue to hold back homebuyers into the new year except in Ontario and British Columbia.
Read more »