Taking the Court out of Ottawa
The CBA supports the Supreme Court of Canada’s commitment to enhancing public appreciation of Canada’s law and democratic institutions.
The Canadian Bar Association, in a letter from President Steeves Bujold to the Chief Justice of Canada Richard Wagner, is cheering the Supreme Court’s September sitting in Quebec City.
In 2019, when the Court made the historic decision to sit outside of Ottawa and hear cases in Winnipeg, the CBA expressed it support for such an occasional initiative, taking a few factors into consideration: “the relationship to the region where the hearing would be held; the cost to the parties; opportunities for public engagement and education; and public perception of the stressors in the justice system generally.”
Given the success of the Winnipeg events, the CBA wholeheartedly supports the Court conducting two hearings in Quebec City in September 2022. “We believe that bringing SCC proceedings to different parts of Canada can only strengthen the bond between the Court and the public at a time when connection is sorely needed,” Bujold says.
