Prime Minister nominates the Honorable Michelle O’Bonsawin to the Supreme Court of Canada

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced today that he is proposing to appoint the Honorable Michelle O’Bonsawin to the Supreme Court of Canada.

Justice O’Bonsawin is an accomplished jurist specializing in the areas of mental health, the principles of judgment Gladue, labor and employment law, human rights and privacy law. She has served on the Ontario Superior Court of Justice in Ottawa since 2017. Justice O’Bonsawin holds a Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Laws and Master of Laws. She completed her doctorate in law earlier this year. A perfectly bilingual Franco-Ontarian, she is an Abenaki member of the Odanak First Nation.

Following today’s announcement, members of the House of Commons Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights will participate in a special Committee hearing on August 24, 2022. During this hearing, the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada, the Honorable David Lametti, and the Chair of the Independent Advisory Board for Supreme Court of Canada Judicial Appointments, the Honorable H. Wade MacLauchlan, will tell them about the selection process and why motivating the appointment of Justice O’Bonsawin.

As part of the Government of Canada’s commitment to openness, transparency and accountability, members of the House of Commons Standing Committee will then participate in a question and answer session with the candidate . They will be joined by members of the Standing Senate Committee on Legal and Constitutional Affairs and a member of the Green Party of Canada. The session will be moderated by Alain Roussy, Associate Dean of the French Common Law Program of the Common Law Section of the Faculty of Law of the University of Ottawa.

This appointment is to fill the position that will be left vacant following the upcoming retirement of the Honorable Michael J. Moldaver. The Prime Minister again thanked Justice Moldaver for his service and congratulated him on his distinguished career in the judiciary.

Quote

“I am pleased to announce the appointment of Justice Michelle O’Bonsawin to the Supreme Court of Canada, a body recognized worldwide for its strength, excellence and independence. Justice O’Bonsawin was appointed following an open, non-partisan selection process. I am confident that she will bring invaluable knowledge and contributions to our nation’s highest court. »

Highlights

• The selection process was launched on April 4, 2022 to fill the soon to be vacated position on the Supreme Court of Canada.
• The application period was open for six weeks to all qualified applicants from Ontario, in recognition of the conventional principle of regional representation.
• Among the nominations received, members of the Independent Advisory Board for Supreme Court of Canada Judicial Appointments have identified jurists of the highest caliber who are effectively bilingual and who meet the regulatory requirements for eligibility for a reserved seat at the Ontario. They then submitted a shortlist of candidates to the prime minister for consideration.
• Justice Moldaver was appointed to the Supreme Court of Canada in 2011 while serving on the Ontario Court of Appeal. He will retire on 1 September 2022.
• In 2016, the Government of Canada announced a new process for appointments to the Supreme Court of Canada. It provided for the creation of an independent, non-partisan advisory committee to find qualified and relevant candidates to sit on the Supreme Court of Canada.
• The Supreme Court of Canada is made up of nine judges, including a Chief Justice. They are all appointed by the Governor in Council and must be chosen from among the judges of a provincial superior court or from among lawyers who have been called for at least ten years at the bar of a province or territory.

Biographical note

Related links