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Radical Feminist Liberals Nominated to Canada Supreme Court

OTTAWA, August 24, 2004 (LifeSiteNews.com) - The Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada, Irwin Cotler today announced two nominees for appointment to the Supreme Court of Canada: Madam Justice Louise Charron, and Madam Justice Rosalie Abella -- both from the Ontario Court of Appeal. Charron and Abella will be vetted in a new parliamentary screening process to start this week.

In a press release today, Canada's largest pro-life organization is decrying both the nominees for, and the process involved in, proposed new appointments to the Supreme Court of Canada by federal Justice Minister Irwin Cotler.

"We fear that, should they be appointed to the Supreme Court, both Louise Charron and Rosalie Abella will apply their own ideological biases, which are decidedly left of centre," commented Jim Hughes, president of Campaign Life Coalition. "We are calling on Mr. Cotler and Prime Minister Paul Martin to select more ideologically centrist candidates, who have views more in keeping with the sentiments of mainstream Canada."

"The two nominees are known hard-line feminists who will apply not law and reason but their own ideologies," Gwen Landolt, head of REAL Women of Canada, said in comments made to LifeSiteNews.com Tuesday. Landolt pointed out that both Charron and Abella are staunchly pro same-sex "marriage" and benefits, having both handed down decisions favouring this position. Abella, in her Rosenberg decision in 1999, insisted the federal government revise income tax laws to favour same-sex couples.

Charron acted as the associate director of the National Judicial Institute for two years, a body of feminist legal theorists formed to promote feminist theory in law, Landolt explained. The Institute produced a "gender sensitivity program" written by feminists, to be used to train Canadian judges, Landolt said.

The federal government has convened an ad hoc committee to review the nominations, necessitated by the recent departures of Justices Louise Arbour and Frank Iacobucci. Minister Cotler will appear before the ad hoc committee in a public hearing Wednesday to discuss how and why the nominees were chosen.

"The appointment system is a charade," Landolt said, commenting on the nomination and selection process. The Liberal government calls the new process "transparent," however, only Cotler will appear before the committee for questioning, not the judges themselves, Landolt explained. Although parliamentarians can ask questions of Cotler, there is no mechanism in place whereby lawmakers can repeal his nominations. "It's a smoke and mirrors game," Landolt said.

The ad hoc committee will issue a report Friday providing advice on the appointment of the nominees, for the consideration of the Prime Minister and Cabinet.

"This spells the end of the court," Landolt said. "The court is now a political toy to be kicked and used at the discretion of the government." These appointments "further undermine Canadians trust in the courts. There is no more credibility for the Supreme Court."

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