TORONTO — Roy McMurtry, a legal and political giant in Ontario who helped pave the way for same-sex marriage as a judge and a key player in the Canadian Constitution, has died at 91.
McMurtry, a trial lawyer for 15 years, won his Eglinton riding in Toronto in 1975 and was immediately appointed attorney general under Progressive Conservative premier Bill Davis.
"Former Chief Justice McMurtry was a giant whose vision and brilliance helped shape the province and country we live in today," the Appeal Court wrote in a statement Tuesday.During his time as attorney general, McMurtry oversaw a number of important reforms in the justice system, including bilingualism in the courts and family law reform, said current Ontario Attorney General Doug Downey.
McMurtry played a pivotal role in negotiating the Charter of Rights and Freedoms and patriating Canada's Constitution during his time in provincial government, said the Court of Appeal for Ontario. The three hammered out the basics of a deal, which became known as the"kitchen accord." McMurtry and Romanow got Chrétien to compromise by adding the"notwithstanding clause" that gave provinces the ability to protect legislation that would otherwise violate Canadians' Charter rights.
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