Chief Justice of Canada announces the creation of a new Advisory Group

OTTAWA, 22 September 2004 -- The Chairperson of the Canadian Judicial Council, the Right Honourable Beverley McLachlin, announced today the creation of an Advisory Group that is expected to serve as a "sounding board" on issues now facing the Canadian judiciary.

At the same time, Chief Justice McLachlin released the Council's 2003-2004 Annual Report and unveiled the Council's new website, which provides key information about the justice system.

Establishing an Advisory Group to the Chairperson is in direct response to a previous recommendation by a special committee of the Canadian Judicial Council, part of a strategy to strengthen the Council's mandate of promoting efficiency, uniformity and quality in Canada's justice system.

In announcing the names of members of the Advisory Group today, the Chief Justice stressed the Council's responsibility to maintain the high level of confidence that the Canadian public has in the judiciary. 

"We are moving forward to strengthen those activities in support of our mandate," she said, "Canadians are more than ever aware of the importance of the justice system in our society.  They expect and demand accountability from all public institutions, and this includes the judiciary."

Members of the Advisory Group are all serving on a volunteer basis.  They represent a wide range of perspectives and experience, some unrelated to legal or judicial areas of activity.

The members of the Advisory Group are: Mr Justice Ian Binnie, Mme Lise Bissonnette, Mr Justice Bruce Cohen, Ms Mary Coyle, Madam Justice Eleanore Cronk, The Honourable Peter Loughheed, Mr Richard W. Pound, Le juge en chef John Richard, The Honourable Roy Romanow, Chief Justice Richard Scott, Ms Janice Gross Stein, Ms Jean Teillet, Mr Milton Wong.  The group is expected to meet a few times a year and provide its views to the Chairperson on issues facing the judiciary.

Background information and biographical notes on the members of the Advisory Group are on the Council website.

The Canadian Judicial Council is composed of the chief justices and associate chief justices of Canada's superior courts.  Information about the Council is available at: 
http://www.cjc-ccm.gc.ca 

Contact:
Norman Sabourin
Executive Director and General Counsel
613-949-2246