Thanks very much, Mr. Moore, for your question—“Rob”, if I may. It's a great question and an important one.
Throughout the pandemic I've pretty much been in constant touch with my provincial and territorial counterparts. We've had a number of FPT calls as a reaction to COVID-19. I have also, with the Chief Justice of Canada, co-chaired an action committee with a number of chief magistrates across Canada to discuss, implement and suggest best practices for courts in reacting to the pandemic, both in hearing cases and parts of cases at a distance, but also in doing so safely when it's done physically.
We have, I think, done a very good job of filling court vacancies and continue to do so expeditiously. I think we're at a pretty good point.
The Newfoundland and Labrador question is a particular one. We have just re-composed the judicial appointments committee, and they are now evaluating files. We should be able to move to fill those four vacancies in short order. The delay was caused by the transition in the judicial appointments committee. Now that it's up and doing its work again evaluating files, there will be a pool of candidates who can then move on to the next stage.
We hope that will be done very shortly. You're correct to raise the issue, as was Ches Crosbie. Believe me, it was on my radar screen as well as on the radar screen of our team. I think we now have the JAC up and functioning again.