David Lametti, Canada’s new Minister of Justice and Attorney General

David Lametti has been sworn in as Canada’s new Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada, replacing Jody Wilson-Raybould.  The Montreal MP for LaSalle-Emard-Verdun steps into his new role as Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was prompted to shuffle his cabinet following last week’s announced departure of former Treasury Board president Scott Brison.

“On behalf of CBA members, I congratulate the new Minister on his appointment. We look forward to meeting him in the coming weeks to discuss issues of mutual interest on which we can work together,” said CBA President Ray Adlington. He also wishes former minister Wilson-Raybould well as she takes up her new duties as Minister of Veteran Affairs. He acknowledged her efforts at handling many challenging justice files — from the legalization of cannabis to medical assistance in dying and criminal law reform. “Minister Wilson-Raybould also deserves recognition for all her success in diversifying the Canadian judiciary through her appointments.”

Lametti, previously a well-regarded parliamentary secretary to Innovation Minister Navdeep Bains, was a law professor at McGill before he entered politics. He taught civil and common law property, intellectual property, property theory, and ethics, and co-founded the Centre for Intellectual Property Policy.  He won his riding's seat in Parliament in the 2015 federal election.