Thank you very much, Madam Chair.
Thank you very much, Madam Campbell.
From this exceptional field described by Madam Campbell, Justice Jamal emerged as the individual best qualified to serve on the highest court in our justice system. I am supremely confident that Justice Jamal, based on his lived experiences and demonstrated commitment to the rule of law, will serve Canada and its peoples with the same verve and commitment as that of his predecessor on the court.
Justice Jamal makes history as the first person of colour to be appointed to our highest court and the first person of the Baha'i faith. His story is not only one of excellence in the legal profession, in scholarship and in voluntary service to his community, but also one of navigating the role of difference in our society, often leveraging the role of counsellor and advocate to bridge the inequalities that too often attach to our differences.
Justice Jamal has been involved as a lawyer in some of the most important constitutional cases of the last few decades, so the Supreme Court is obviously no stranger to him. He has regularly volunteered his skills and dedication to people and organizations of modest means. He has studied the laws of our country extensively, taught and written numerous publications on the subject, demonstrating great intellectual stature and a commitment to supporting the evolution of Canada's legal institutions and traditions. Throughout his career, he has enthusiastically embraced opportunities to work in both French and English, including as an appellate judge. In that capacity, he has served the Ontario Court of Appeal admirably as a fair and thoughtful judge with a keen sense of analysis.
I'm proud of his appointment, and I'm confident that all Canadians will be, too.
Before I conclude, Madam Chair, I would like, on a somewhat lighter note, to refer to a hockey analogy that was once used to highlight Justice Jamal's strong reputation. I feel that such an analogy is very timely, given that my hometown team, the Montreal Canadiens, is battling for a berth in the Stanley Cup final. It was a description of a lawyer's reaction when she discovered that Justice Jamal, who was then a member of the bar, would be the lawyer on the other side. It was said that opposing counsel must know what it feels like “to show up for a game of shinny and find Wayne Gretzky facing off against her”. Madam Chair, I believe this analogy aptly reflects, in classic Canadian fashion, Justice Jamal's exceptional legal skills.
I thank the Right Honourable Kim Campbell and her colleagues on the IAB.
I look forward to your questions.