New procedure for selecting SCC

[idealisttotheend]

Globe story

The Conservatives had long been pushing for parliamentary hearings similar to the United States' congressional grilling of prospective Supreme Court judges in that country.

But the mechanism to be used this week is a far cry from the politically charged proceedings seen in the U.S. A more permanent system will be devised after the next two judges are appointed.

For starters, Mr. Martin will continue naming Supreme Court judges — just like prime ministers always have — and cannot be overruled by the interim panel of three Liberals and four opposition MPs.

And the hearings might not be televised. Panel members will vote at the start of Wednesday's proceedings whether they want them broadcast.

The panel — which will include two independent legal experts — will table a report about the hearings once they wrap up either Wednesday or Thursday.

There will be no vote, formal recommendation or any other official mechanism for objecting to the nominations. The final report has no binding effect on Mr. Martin.

It now appears that there will be confimation hearings for the selection of judges to the Supreme court. A panel of 7 MPs and 2 legal experts will question the candadates and will submit a report to the PM. The PM retains sole right to judge who is appointed or not appointed.

A typical Canadian compromise? Will it be useful?

I don't really know what to make of it myself but it's been a big issue post charter so I guess it's news.

[DAC]

Sounds to me like typical political dishonesty.

Martin promised more participation. What does he give? A chance for a few people to talk about the issue.

[kimmy]

And the real kicker is that the panel doesn't even get to interview the candidates. They get to interview the justice minister:

“We have decided that we will attend (the hearings) but we are not pleased with the process,” said Vic Toews, who will sit on the panel.

“Not only are we not getting the nominees, but we're getting the second-hand political story.... We'll have the Justice Minister answering questions as to why the Prime Minister thought these two individuals should be on the Supreme Court of Canada.

“I don't think that process is acceptable.”

On the news tonight they said that the justice minister himself has not actually had any discussions with the candidates. As well, the field of questions the panel is allowed to ask is extremely narrow.

This appears to be strictly for show. It's almost like Chretien never even left office.

-kimmy

[playfullfellow]

This appears to be strictly for show. It's almost like Chretien never even left office.

A skunk (the liberal party) can't change his colours. It seems quite obvious that anytime something might be good for the Canadian public, the liberals have to skew it and fix it so that they are still in complete control.