Alberta
Premier Danielle Smith, left, Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe, centre,
Ontario Premier Doug Ford and Quebec Premier François Legault, not
pictured, have written to Prime Minister Mark Carney saying they want
more of a role in how the federal government appoints judges in their
respective provinces. (Jeff McIntosh/The Canadian Press)
Justice
Minister Sean Fraser says he has no plans to change how judges are
appointed in Canada despite four premiers writing to Prime Minister Mark
Carney to ask for more of a say in the process.
"We haven't
changed our point of view that we believe that the judicial appointments
process is functioning," Fraser said Tuesday on his way into a cabinet
meeting.
Fraser said there is already a mechanism by which the
provinces can consult with the federal government over judicial
appointments, and that process is working.
"If provinces want a greater role, we welcome them to take part in that consultation process when we reach out," he said.
WATCH | Fraser says no constitutional amendments coming:
Justice minister open to more provincial consultation on judicial appointments, but not 'a sea change'
4 hours ago|
Duration 1:08
The
premiers of Ontario, Quebec, Saskatchewan and Alberta are asking the
federal government for an expanded role in the appointment of Superior
Court judges in their provinces. Justice Minister Sean Fraser said he is
open to strengthening provincial feedback on judicial candidates, but
is 'certainly not looking at constitutional amendments.'
Alberta
Premier Danielle Smith, Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe, Ontario Premier
Doug Ford and Quebec Premier François Legault's letter to Prime
Minister Mark Carney asks for reforms to the process for how justices
are appointed to superior and appeal courts in the provinces, as well as
how justices are appointed to the Supreme Court of Canada.
In
Canada the federal government appoints judges to the Supreme Court,
Federal Court, superior courts, appeal courts and the Tax Court of
Canada.
The
committee then provides the federal justice minister with a list of
names to choose from for each appointment. Fraser says he has regularly
reached out to seek feedback from his provincial counterparts about the
names provided to him by the committees.
"To the extent that [the
premiers] wish to have a conversation about how we can strengthen the
role of that consultation, we'd be open to it. But we're not
contemplating a sea change in the manner in which judges are appointed,"
he said.
The provinces, meanwhile, make judicial appointments to
provincial and territorial courts in their jurisdictions as well as to
family, youth and small claims courts.
Meeting an international standard
The
premiers' letter says that in countries like the U.S., Germany,
Australia and Switzerland, provincial-level governments make
appointments to the equivalent of superior and appeal courts in their
respective juristictions and they want that same authority afforded to
them.
"We are therefore requesting that federal judicial
appointments for superior trial courts and courts of appeal of the
provinces be chosen from candidates recommended and approved by the
relevant provincial government," the letter says.
The premiers
say they also want full access to the same background information used
by the federal judicial committees when selecting candidates.
"Active
engagement of our governments will help ensure that judicial
appointments appropriately reflect the diversity and the unique needs of
each province and territory," the letter says.
The premiers also
say they want reforms to how Supreme Court justices are appointed, but
the letter does not include what specific changes they want for that
process.
WATCH | Justice minister welcomes provinces 'to take part' in process:
Justice minister says judge appointment process working but welcomes provinces 'to take part'
7 hours ago|
Duration 1:08
On
Tuesday, the premiers of Ontario, Quebec, Saskatchewan and Alberta
published a letter to Prime Minister Mark Carney asking for an expanded
role in the appointment of superior court judges in their provinces.
Justice Minister Sean Fraser said Ottawa's position is that the process
is already working, but 'we welcome provincial governments'
participation in that process.'
Fraser said
that he personally receives "a lot of positive feedback" from every
province and that back and forth has let to a number of "excellent
appointments."
He said that he hopes that process continues.
Industry Minister Mélanie Joly suggested that the premiers' proposal is worth thinking about.
"We've
always taken into consideration the different proposals by the Quebec
government and by provinces and I think we should be open to it," she
said.
"I think the more we're able to showcase collaborative
federalism in our country and make it work more, Canadians win across
the country from it."
Ford has openly criticized judges
in his province, accusing them of being soft on crime, interfering in
municipal issues and even basing their decisions on ideology.
He
went as far as to suggest that Ontario should consider electing judges,
like they do south of the border, because doing so would make them more
accountable for their decisions.
"These judges that are bleeding
hearts, I can't wait until they retire. Matter of fact, I'll pay them to
retire earlier. I'll pay you out, for two, three, four years. Just get
out of the system," he said last year.
More recently Ford called for an Ontario judge to apologize for suggesting that three Toronto police officers lied and colluded in a high-profile criminal trial.
Earlier
this year Smith said her province needs more say in how upper court
judges in Alberta are appointed because "80 per cent of the judges or so
have been demonstrated to have Liberal Party donations."
That
figure, however, does not correspond to a CBC News analysis of the 89
Alberta judges the Liberal government named or promoted since taking
office in 2015. That analysis found only 20 of the 89 names match up
with Liberal Party donors in the Elections Canada database, about 22 per
cent of appointees.
Last month, Smith went so far as to threaten to withhold funding to support federally appointed judges in her province without more of a say on how they are appointed.
Peter
Zimonjic is a senior writer for CBC News who reports for digital, radio
and television. He has worked as a reporter and columnist in London,
England, for the Telegraph, Times and Daily Mail, and in Canada for the
Ottawa Citizen, Torstar and Sun Media. He is the author of Into The
Darkness: An Account of 7/7, published by Vintage.
Alberta Premier Danielle Smith is gathering support from other provinces in calling for more influence on judicial appointments, a committee of MLAs set to review the Forever Canadian petition has yet to meet and the first set of deadlines in the pipeline MOU may not be met. Duane Bratt, a political scientist with Mount Royal University, and Graham Thomson, a political columnist, discuss these topics on the Politics Panel.
A "legal chat" turns into a heated debate over what Jean Chrétien originally intended for the Charter. The notwithstanding clause was meant for "extreme cases," but is it being ignored when it matters most?
Dive into the debate over Bill C-16 and the Supreme Court's use of "hypotheticals" to strike down mandatory sentences.
Notwithstanding the fact that everybody knows the Justice Minister's judges used this absurd loophole against me after I beat the Crown fair and square in Federal Court
Rule 55 In special circumstances, in a proceeding, the Court may vary a rule or dispense with compliance with a rule.
Conservative MPs squared off against Carney's Liberal cabinet today during question period, while Mark Carney was in Ottawa but refused to come to the House of Commons. .
Notwithstanding??? How about the fact that everybody knows the Justice Minister's judges used this absurd loophole against me after I beat the Crown fair and square in Federal Court?
Rule 55 In special circumstances, in a proceeding, the Court may vary a rule or dispense with compliance with a rule.
SOR/2004-283, s. 11
Canadians lose when bloated budget bills thwart parliamentary oversight:
Senate committee
March 24, 2026
Ottawa – Senators should push back against budget implementation bills that obstruct parliamentary scrutiny by smuggling in non-financial measures, the Senate Committee on National Finance said in a report released Tuesday,
Yesterday in the Senate, Conservative Senator Yonah Martin called out Liberal Minister LeBlanc for having secret meetings behind closed doors, ahead of an anticipated upcoming CUSMA review.
By Gisele McKnight
FUNDY—He has a pack of cigarettes in his shirt pocket, a chain on his
wallet, a beard at least a foot long, 60 motorcycles and a cell phone
that rings to the tune of "Yankee Doodle."
Meet the latest addition to the Fundy ballot—David Amos.
The independent candidate lives in Milton, Massachusetts with his wife
and two children, but his place of residence does not stop him from
running for office in Canada.
One has only to be at least 18, a Canadian citizen and not be in jail
to meet Elections Canada requirements.
When it came time to launch his political crusade, Amos chose his
favourite place to do so—Fundy.
Amos, 52, is running for political office because of his
dissatisfaction with politicians.
"I’ve become aware of much corruption involving our two countries," he
said. "The only way to fix corruption is in the political forum."
The journey that eventually led Amos to politics began in Sussex in
1987. He woke up one morning disillusioned with life and decided he
needed to change his life.
"I lost my faith in mankind," he said. "People go through that
sometimes in midlife."
So Amos, who’d lived in Sussex since 1973, closed his Four Corners
motorcycle shop, paid his bills and hit the road with Annie, his 1952
Panhead motorcycle.
"Annie and I rode around for awhile (three years, to be exact)
experiencing the milk of human kindness," he said. "This is how you
renew your faith in mankind – you help anyone you can, you never ask
for anything, but you take what they offer."
For those three years, they offered food, a place to sleep, odd jobs
and conversation all over North America.
Since he and Annie stopped wandering, he has married, fathered a son
and a daughter and become a house-husband – Mr. Mom, as he calls
himself.
He also describes himself in far more colourful terms—a motorcyclist
rather than a biker, a "fun-loving, free-thinking, pig-headed
individual," a "pissed-off Maritimer" rather than an activist, a proud
Canadian and a "wild colonial boy."
Ironically, the man who is running for office has never voted in his life.
"But I have no right to criticize unless I offer my name," he said.
"It’s alright to bitch in the kitchen, but can you walk the walk?"
Amos has no intention of actively campaigning.
"I didn’t appreciate it when they (politicians) pounded on my door
interrupting my dinner," he said. "If people are interested, they can
call me. I’m not going to drive my opinions down their throats."
And he has no campaign budget, nor does he want one.
"I won’t take any donations," he said. "Just try to give me some. It’s
not about money. It goes against what I’m fighting about."
What he’s fighting for is the discussion of issues – tainted blood,
the exploitation of the Maritimes’ gas and oil reserves and NAFTA, to
name a few.
"The political issues in the Maritimes involve the three Fs – fishing,
farming and forestry, but they forget foreign issues," he said. "I’m
death on NAFTA, the back room deals and free trade. I say chuck it
(NAFTA) out the window.
NAFTA is the North American Free Trade Agreement which allows an
easier flow of goods between Canada, the United States and Mexico.
Amos disagrees with the idea that a vote for him is a wasted vote.
"There are no wasted votes," he said. "I want people like me,
especially young people, to pay attention and exercise their right.
Don’t necessarily vote for me, but vote."
Although…if you’re going to vote anyway, Amos would be happy to have
your X by his name.
"I want people to go into that voting booth, see my name, laugh and
say, ‘what the hell.’"
Follow the daily fireworks from the House of Commons as elected officials debate about pressing issues. All questions are posed through the Speaker with the leader of the Opposition asking the first questions.
Mar 25, 2026 MPs speak with reporters on Parliament Hill as they convene for the daily question period in the House of Commons.
Prime Minister Mark Carney is asked about the fact that his office currently does not have a francophone speech writer.
Conservative MPs Michelle Rempel and Pierre Paul-Hus speak about Rempel’s private member's bill (C-220) on immigration status in sentencing. Paul-Hus also comments on Air Canada CEO Michael Rousseau’s English-only condolence message following the deadly plane collision at New York’s LaGuardia airport.
Interim NDP Leader Don Davies speaks about Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew’s criticism of the U.S.-Israel military campaign in Iran and its impact on gas prices in Canada. Davies also discusses the future of the NDP as the party gets ready to select its new leader this weekend at a convention in Winnipeg.
Davies and Conservative MP Ben Lobb are asked about Prime Minister Mark Carney’s limited attendance at daily question period so far this year.
Liberal MP Will Greaves comments on the case of a Scottish-born midwife who is unable to practice in British Columbia due to an issue with an English proficiency test.
Conservative MPs Arpan Khanna and Larry Block speak about Khanna’s private member's bill (C-242) aimed at addressing crime and public safety.
Conservative MP Scott Aitchison discusses the federal and Ontario government’s move to temporarily expand the HST rebate on new homes.
What happens when a government mandate is ignored by 98% of the people it affects?
In this heated committee exchange, the Public Safety Minister is confronted with staggering numbers: only 2.5% of affected firearms have been declared. Watch as Conservative MP Dane Lloyd grills the Minister on the "voluntary" nature of the program and the plan to use off-duty officers for collections while Canada faces a national police shortage.
Raising a Little Hell- Lively Debate Provokes Crowd
By Erin Hatfield
"If you don't like what you got, why don't you change it? If your world is all screwed up, rearrange it."
The 1979 Trooper song Raise a Little Hell blared on the speakers at the 8th Hussars Sports Center Friday evening as people filed in to watch the Fundy candidates debate the issues. It was an accurate, if unofficial, theme song for the debate.
The crowd of over 200 spectators was dwarfed by the huge arena, but as they chose their seats, it was clear the battle lines were drawn. Supporters of Conservative candidate Rob Moore naturally took the blue chairs on the right of the rink floor while John Herron's Liberalswent left. There were splashes of orange, supporters of NDP Pat Hanratty, mixed throughout. Perhaps the loudest applause came from a row towards the back, where supporters of independent candidate David Amos sat.
The debate was moderated by Leo Melanson of CJCW Radio and was organized by the Sussex Valley Jaycees. Candidates wereasked a barrage of questions bypanelists Gisele McKnight of the Kings County Record and Lisa Spencer of CJCW.
Staying true to party platforms for the most part, candidates responded to questions about the gun registry, same sex marriage, the exodus of young people from the Maritimes and regulated gas prices. Herron and Moore were clear competitors,constantly challenging each other on their answers and criticizing eachothers’ party leaders. Hanratty flew under the radar, giving short, concise responses to the questions while Amos provided some food for thought and a bit of comic relief with quirky answers. "I was raised with a gun," Amos said in response to the question of thenational gun registry. "Nobody's getting mine and I'm not paying 10 cents for it."
Alberta
Premier Danielle Smith, left, Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe, centre,
Ontario Premier Doug Ford and Quebec Premier François Legault, not
pictured, have written to Prime Minister Mark Carney saying they want
more of a role in how the federal government appoints judges in their
respective provinces. (Jeff McIntosh/The Canadian Press)
Justice minister open to more provincial consultation on judicial appointments, but not 'a sea change'
Justice minister says judge appointment process working but welcomes provinces 'to take part'
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