Justice committee  I didn't say that. Mr. Ménard said that. But I agree with Mr. Ménard that there's a very small proportion of cases being heard by superior court judges. I hasten to add that we must not overlook then, Mr. Ménard, the fact that judges do sit in appeal of summary convictions.

Justice committee  It could happen, but I don't think it's.... Look, I'm more concerned about the perception than the actual result of having the police officer there. It's the perception. It can happen that you have a police officer who will vote against a given lawyer because that lawyer took him

Justice committee  Right. I'd say more than 95%, but I can' be sure about that.

Justice committee  It's minimal, but the perception that there can be a bias is not minimal.

Justice committee  I don't get excited about the “highly approved”, “not highly approved”, or “recommended”. I don't get excited about that one. I don't get excited either—although I wonder why, but maybe it's because I don't know why—about the change wherein the minister suddenly gets a majority.

Justice committee  Given the fact that I don't think it's going to succeed in having any effect, I think the avowed purpose is going to diminish the repute of the judiciary.

Justice committee  Yes, I owe it to myself to respond. I mentioned pressure groups and agendas, and that's one group. I then mentioned the police, but I didn't mention the police as being part of the agenda groups.

Justice committee  Secondly, I said there are other kinds of committees that are best staffed by people of various walks of life and of different generations. I agree with you that the kind of committee you mentioned in support of your position is precisely the kind of committee I was thinking of.

Justice committee  I called the Chief Justice of Quebec and I spoke to him about a number of topics. He told me that, last year, 45 criminal cases had been heard by Superior Court judges across the province. We're talking about 45 cases, whereas I'm convinced that thousands of those cases are heard

Justice committee  Do you know how many sections of the law or how many laws have been declared inoperable? Do you have an idea?

Justice committee  You can ask your colleagues.

Justice committee  How many is it?

Justice committee  Well, I'll go further. Adding sections, it's 17 or 19. So who's getting nervous about all this? Those who talk about judicial activism do so because they don't agree with the judgment. When they agree with the judgment, they don't talk about judicial activism; they just don't m

Justice committee  I agree with what he just said. I would also recommend, as he did, that there be a reference to the Supreme Court to ask the question. That said, as a former Chief Justice, out of deference to my former colleagues, I will be silent about how I would vote if I were still on the b

Justice committee  It was the title the Ottawa Citizen put over Janice Tibbetts' interview. She had no control over the title. I gave her an interview. They said that I was objecting to the Prime Minister wanting to “muzzle” the judges. I never said that, and Janice Tibbetts never wrote that. I d