Thank you for the comments and the question.
Again, diversity is an important criterion. What we have sought to do in terms of this selection process is make our assessment criteria public with regard to this appointment and future appointments to the Supreme Court of Canada. The next appointment, barring any other circumstances, will be in 2018, when the chief justice is set to retire at age 75. It's the intention to ensure that this process is followed for this appointment and future appointments and to recognize that built into this process is the ability for members of Parliament, the advisory board, and others to contribute and provide comments about how we can improve the process.
We talked earlier about the first woman who was appointed to the Supreme Court of Canada. The social realities of our country and what it means to be Canadian are a dynamic process, and I believe that a public recognition of the need for diversity on the Supreme Court of Canada is a substantive start to the process. It's an acknowledgement of the need to ensure, as we move forward, that the highest court in our land reflects the diversity that exists in the country.
Who the appointment will be is yet to be determined, as I've said. I don't think that you're the only visible minority around this table. I too come from a visible minority and I am very proud of that. I know that among the visible minorities in this country there are substantive jurists who can put their names forward this time and in the future. Moving toward a more diverse bench not only at the Supreme Court but at other courts in the country as well will not only provide differing perspectives and backgrounds and considerations in terms of legal concepts and cases and factual circumstances but will also provide an increased sense of confidence in the judiciary, in that people who appear before the justices will have the confidence that comes from seeing their reflections in those justices.