Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank you to the both of you for being here today. This is indeed an important bill, so the Canadian Judicial Council's view is obviously of the utmost importance. I'm glad that you're both here.
The case involving Judge Girouard came up earlier. It's one that can't be ignored. It would be nice if we didn't have to talk about it, but it has captured the attention of the media and the entire judiciary in recent years.
Far be it from me to say that judges should not be allowed to appeal or challenge the council's decisions. That's probably true for everyone. Nevertheless, the process has to have some limits, and I think that's what Bill C‑9 seeks to do. However, it does not set any limits on something that keeps coming up in the public space, legal costs.
I don't want to get into the specifics of the case I just mentioned, but abuse of process not only delays the proceeding, which has costly salary and other implications, but also results in considerable legal fees. One question keeps coming up. If the judge is found guilty and the decision is warranted, why wouldn't the lawyers' fees have to be repaid, at least for the judicial process? It might be possible. It might not. Could the judge be made to repay all or some of the legal fees if proceedings were found to be unnecessary or frivolous? I don't know.
Have you explored that possibility?
I'd like to hear from Mr. Giroux and, then, Ms. Corado.