Roundup: The Chief Justice is not happy about mounting judicial vacancies

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The Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Canada, Richard Wagner, wrote to the prime minister about the state of judicial vacancies, of which there are currently 88, and that this is causing problems with the criminal justice system. Of course, the problems in the system are multi-faceted—provinces aren’t resourcing courts, and they have provincial judicial vacancies of their own, but this was the Chief Justice, on behalf of the Canadian Judicial Council, pointing out that this is a problem that the federal government has created for itself, and needs to address.

This has been a problem this government has had since the very start—they insist on self-nominations rather than in doing the work of going out and identifying people who are suited for particular vacancies, and tapping them to fill them. It’s not just judicial vacancies either—it’s senators, heads of tribunals, Officers of Parliament, you name it. And because they insist on diversifying their appointments (which is a good thing!) this makes self-nominations even more difficult because the people they want to apply don’t, because they have been conditioned by society not to see themselves in those roles (i.e. they think judges are all old white men, so they don’t apply if they’re not). And the government knows this is a problem. It has been pointed out to them time and again, for years now.

But what do they do? Pat themselves on the back for all of the great appointments they’ve made so far. I wish I were kidding, but that’s their response, and it’s continually their response because a) they don’t like to admit that they’re going about these appointments in the wrong way; and b) they’re justifying their failure to do something about the mess they made for themselves. And it’s not like the previous guys were much better, with decidedly male-heavy appointments, and doing things like appointing Peter MacKay’s wedding party to the bench, because that also was not great. But this inability to learn from their failures is one of this government’s big problems as they get increasingly fatigued, and if they don’t do something about it, it’s going to cost them.

Ukraine Dispatch:

Russian forces fired 25 cruise missiles at Kyiv overnight on Tuesday, in advance of their Victory Day, of which 23 were shot down, claiming they hit ammunition stores. Their Victory Day parade was pretty spare, given how badly they have depleted their forces in the war. Meanwhile European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen visited Kyiv for Europe Day, which is in part a further signal that Ukraine continues in its intentions to turn westward away from Russia.

Good reads:

  • Justin Trudeau disputed Facebook’s claim they don’t make money from news links, and said he wouldn’t adopt his party’s policy resolution on unnamed sources.
  • Trudeau also said that Canada “will not be intimidated” by China expelling a Canadian diplomat in retaliation for our declaring their diplomat persona non grata.
  • None of the three people serving as National Security and Intelligence Advisor around the time of the Chong briefing recall seeing it or being briefed.
  • Mélanie Joly announced that Canada intends to seek a seat on the UN Human Rights Council (which is usually being denounced because of other members on it).
  • Here is a quick look at the Indigenous guardians programmes which the federal government has increasingly been funding.
  • The canola industry is (rightly) concerned that their market access in China could be cut off once again as part of the current diplomatic dispute.
  • A defence company under investigation for corruption claims a government audit has cleared them, but the government hasn’t received the report yet.
  • Commons debate on whether Michael Chong’s privileges were breached by the alleged Chinese threats predictably turned into an utter gong show. Of course.
  • At committee, the chair of the Trudeau Foundation board decried the “unwarranted and unfair attacks” against the organisation.
  • Conservative MP Cathay Wagantall has tabled yet another backdoor anti-abortion bill, which has set the Liberals off on a frenzy of pro-choice back-patting.
  • The NDP are questioning why it’s taking the government so long to deliver promised funds on things like shelters for Indigenous women.
  • Here is a look at “Take Back Alberta,” which is trying to elect harder-line UCP candidates in the provincial election.
  • Paul Wells pays attention to the Canada-US Energy Transformation Task Force meeting Chrystia Freeland attended earlier this week, and the signals being sent.
  • My column notes that the government finally did the right thing in creating a uniquely Canadian heraldic crown, to better differentiate our monarchy.

Odds and ends:

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