In terms of the number of judges we have appointed since 2015, it's over 700. Last year, David Lametti and I appointed 100 judges in total. That's never been done in Canadian history. As I said to you, I've appointed 74 in seven months. That is a faster pace than has ever been seen and twice as fast as the previous government.
Is there an issue with respect to appointing judges and the speed at which it is taking place? This is a top priority for me and has been since I took over in this job. In terms of structural changes I've done, I have convened all of the heads of the judicial appointment committees. I have written to them about the need for urgency in terms of making suggestions. I have worked with my deputy and other officials in government to facilitate the speed with which security clearances are obtained. I've made structural changes such that the JACs now sit for three years and their assessments are valid for three years. Every time I tour anywhere in this country, I talk about the need for people to apply: people of the highest quality who represent the diversity of this country.
Other aspects that relate to the need for judges are informed by the courts themselves. The courts tell me that we need a specific expertise, a family law lawyer, a person who has expertise in insolvency matters.... Sometimes, provinces that don't have significant francophone populations still require bilingual jurists, because of the need to address francophone litigants. We are always attentive to the needs of the court, we remain so and we are working very closely with those chief judges to meet the needs of their courts quickly.