Thank you for the question and for being part of this committee. I without question recognize the importance of gender parity. If we go back to the early 1980s, to 1982 and the appointment of Justice Bertha Wilson as the first woman to the Supreme Court of Canada, a lot has changed since then. As you quite rightly point out, with the retirement of the Honourable Justice Cromwell, there will be four women and four men on the court, the chief justice obviously being Madam Justice McLachlin.
As with the recognition of the need for diversity in terms of unrepresented communities, there is a need to look and ensure representation of men and women. Given that the composition of the Supreme Court is nine justices, we won't have parity ever at the Supreme Court of Canada, at least under this current time, but I think your point about ensuring recognition of the need for gender parity is well taken.