Trudeau Appoints Ontario Judge Michelle O Bonchauin As First Aboriginal To Sit On Canada S Supreme Court

The appointment of Ontario Justice Michelle O’Bonsawin as the first Indigenous person to join the Supreme Court of Canada is being heralded as a “monumental step forward” for the country in promoting diversity and reconciliation. Justice O’Bonsawin, a bilingual Franco-Ontarian and Abenaki member of the Odanak First Nation, has served on the Ontario Superior Court of Justice in Ottawa since 2017 and was the first Indigenous woman to hold that position, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said. announcing his candidacy on Friday. The application process for the Supreme Court seat began in April after one of the court’s nine seats was vacated by the upcoming Sept. 1 retirement of Justice Michael Moldaver. As part of the selection process, Judge O’Bonsawin will now take part in a question and answer session with members of the House of Commons justice and human rights committee, including Justice Minister David Lametti. Responding to the nomination on social media, Mr Lametti called it a “historic moment” for the Supreme Court. During the application process, which was only available to judges in Ontario to fill the vacancy for that province, Justice O’Bonsawin spoke about the discrimination she faced as an aboriginal girl growing up off-reserve. The Indigenous Bar Association is seeking a permanent seat on the Supreme Court of Canada She said this experience and working first-hand in Indigenous law gave her insight into the diversity and unique perspectives of Canadians that are important to consider when making legal decisions. “My experience is a clear example of the rich diversity that makes our country so special to me and my family,” she said in an answer to the questionnaire as part of the application process. “My experiences have taught me that discrimination still happens in Canada, but by being aware of these experiences and through my work in the mental health field, I believe I can contribute to making our country an inclusive, just society and fair for all. “ There have been calls from legal advocates to make the high court more diverse and reflective of Canada’s population, with greater representation from women and BIPOC people. This nomination by Mr. Trudeau, his fifth since taking office in 2015, would also restore the 5:4 gender ratio left in place under former Conservative Prime Minister Stephen Harper. Last year, Judge Mahmoud Jamal became the first person of color to sit on the court. Judge O’Bonsawin’s appointment is a move Indigenous Bar Association (IBA) President Drew Lafond said will ensure diverse perspectives are represented in Canadian legal decision-making. The IBA endorsed Justice O’Bonsawin during the application process and also had representation on the independent advisory board that brought her name to Mr. Trudeau for consideration. “I think this is a monumental step forward for Indigenous peoples and something we should all be proud of across Canada,” Mr. Lafond said in an interview. “I think this is a move in the right direction for the Supreme Court of Canada, and hopefully a move toward advancing aboriginal interests and reconciliation. “What we haven’t had in the history of the Supreme Court of Canada is a voice to speak and discuss and navigate complex issues around Indigenous laws, traditions and customs.” Mr Lafond said he hoped the federal government would build on the appointment and do more to advance Indigenous interests in the justice system, including mandating that at least one Supreme Court seat be reserved for someone with experience in laws and traditions. of the natives. Before becoming a judge, Justice O’Bonsawin began her legal career with the RCMP and taught aboriginal law at the University of Ottawa. He was also general counsel for the Royal Ottawa Health Care Group and appeared before various tribunals and levels of court, including the Consent and Capacity Board and the Ontario Review Board. Robert Janes, who practices Aboriginal law as managing partner at JFK Law, said the Indigenous voice would add to the legitimacy of court decisions and allow Indigenous peoples affected by them to feel more included. Mr Janes said the wide range of work experience Justice O’Bonsawin brings to the table beyond her Indigenous background will help with difficult cases the court will face in the coming years. She pointed to her health care legal background as an asset for what she expects will be a series of cases related to the health care system and the COVID-19 pandemic. The Morning Update and Afternoon Update newsletters are written by Globe editors, giving you a concise summary of the day’s most important headlines. Sign up today.

title: “Trudeau Appoints Ontario Judge Michelle O Bonchauin As First Aboriginal To Sit On Canada S Supreme Court Klmat” ShowToc: true date: “2022-11-12” author: “Michael Boudreaux”

title: “Trudeau Appoints Ontario Judge Michelle O Bonchauin As First Aboriginal To Sit On Canada S Supreme Court Klmat” ShowToc: true date: “2022-11-06” author: “Myrna Garcia”

title: “Trudeau Appoints Ontario Judge Michelle O Bonchauin As First Aboriginal To Sit On Canada S Supreme Court Klmat” ShowToc: true date: “2022-12-19” author: “Patricia Thompson”