Thank you, Madam Chair.
The reason why we have asked for this meeting is that, as all of us are aware, former minister Lametti made some remarks recently about the judicial appointments process. All of us around this table, over a number of studies and bills—I'm thinking about even the study we did on the federal government's obligation to victims of crime—have heard commentary about the need to fill judicial vacancies.
The former minister made comments about judicial vacancies, the appointments process and what sounded like his frustration in filling those vacancies. In an effort to get some answers on that, those who signed had asked for this Standing Order 106(4) meeting, a special meeting, so the committee members could hear from witnesses on this issue and act accordingly.
I want to move a motion, Madam Chair, related to this proposed study. I think it's being circulated or has been circulated. It says:
Given that,
The former Minister of Justice, Hon. David Lametti, blamed the slowdown of judicial appointments solely on the Prime Minister's Office and last May, Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Canada, the Right Hon. Richard Wagner, wrote the Prime Minister expressing “great concern” about the shortage of judges in the country, the committee immediately launch a four meeting study in order to assess the impact of the insufficient number of judges Canada has, and calls the following witnesses: Minister of Justice, Hon. Arif Virani; former Minister of Justice, Hon. David Lametti; Commissioner for Federal Judicial Affairs; and Chief Justice of Supreme Court of Canada, Right Hon. Richard Wagner.
That would of course be a starting point. Other parties would have their ideas for witnesses, of course, but I do move that motion, Madam Chair, and I appreciate the committee's consideration of this important topic.