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New Canadian Policy for Supreme Court Nominees Calls For Scrutiny by MPs

Liberal MP says the courts are the "creation of Parliament and subject to it."

OTTAWA, January 30, 2004 - In a move being criticized by Chief Justice Beverley McLachlin, Judges nominated to the Supreme Court of Canada will be faced with scrutiny from new parliamentary committees put in place by Prime Minister Paul Martin.

Parliamentary secretary for democratic reform, Liberal MP Roger Gallaway, had a warning for Chief Justice Beverley McLachlin and the other judges who are against the idea to "remember their proper roles, one of which is to avoid comment on political or parliamentary affairs. What is obvious is the courts, but particularly the Supreme Court, have assumed a position of power which challenges the doctrine of the supremacy of Parliament," he said. Gallaway also added that the courts are the "creation of Parliament and subject to it."

In a speech in Toronto in October of 2002, Prime Minister Martin outlined a six-point plan to help redress the "democratic deficit" in Canada's Supreme Court judicial system. In it he announced his intention to increase scrutiny of judicial nominees. Martin is expected to announce the reforms as part of a throne speech to be delivered Monday.

"The door is now open for House members and committees to push civil servants back to their proper role of administration of the law, and not the creation of it or engaging the public in debate," Gallaway said.

Read the Real Women of Canada letter entitled "Curbing the Power of the Supreme Court," which delineates the history of power as wielded by the Supreme Court. The letter also illustrates several examples of Judicial despotism, including one from Chief Justice Beverley McLachlin. See the letter at: http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2003_docs/curbingthepower.pdf

Read the Globe and Mail article at: http://www.globeandmail.ca/servlet/story/RTGAM.20040130.democracy301/BNStory/Fro...

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