Mr. Speaker, I thank the hon. member for his interesting and useful comments. I have done a good deal of pre-parliamentary work on the special institution of the constitutional court which most countries of the world now have. The judges are elected under specific processes that vary by country. The legislative bodies in many countries are using proportional systems. To institute a change of that sort here would require a constitutional amendment which would also require all 10 provinces and the federal government. Forget it.
When I was parliamentary secretary to the Minister of Foreign Affairs we introduced a system of having departmental appointments to ambassadorial rank brought before the committee. A number of very distinguished people appeared and answered questions at considerable length, and not always with considerable politeness on the part of the questioners as to their qualifications. That can be done by simple parliamentary custom. It may be the sort of thing that the justice committee could usefully consider. Would it be the sort of thing that might be advanced?
Some judges would object. When the charter of rights was being adopted I mentioned a system of the parliamentary election of judges for a constitutional court. One distinguished gentleman said that he would never agree to serve on this basis. I told him that he would be surprised by the thunder of feet of people rushing by him, people who would be prepared to go before an electoral system.
I offer this for the hon. member's consideration. It might be a point worth raising. There are already precedents, for example in the foreign affairs committee.