Can we vote for Simon Cowell? How about Ryan Seacrest?
This latest Liberal P.R. move, almost certainly invented by the geniuses in one of those liberal-friendly ad firms we heard so much about during the Gomery Inquiry, or quite possibly by consulting with the creators of American Idol, is of course once again nothing short of insulting to the intelligence of Canadians. Yes, the Liberals think Canucks will lap it up and come to believe that thanks to the Liberals and their latest act of benevolence, we’re growing up and becoming just as democratic as that nasty old (and actually democratic) United States, with their democratic Supreme Court nomination process (which liberal columnists across Canada have hitherto roundly mocked (oops! —throw it in reverse now, media!).
Justice minister seeks public input into choice of next Supreme Court judge
Justice Minister Irwin Cotler wants public input into who should be the next Supreme Court of Canada judge.
Cotler has issued a release calling for Canadians to make submissions of potential candidates to replace Justice John Major, who retires Dec. 25.
Canadians have until Sept. 20 to make written proposals to the Justice department.
The federal government is touting the move as a comprehensive reform of the judicial appointment process.
But critics are calling the public input “window dressing” because the final decision will still be left to the discretion of the prime minister.
Is there going to be a prize for the best answer? Can we text-message our vote?
Of course all the smoke and mirrors notwithstanding, the official government web site makes out like Canadian history just started today, and sound as if it will revolutionize Canada, yet again, as usual. Not mentioned anywhere is the annoying and rather glaring fact that at any time throughout our entire history, Canadians have always been well within their rights and more than welcome to send the Minister of Justice their opinions as to whom, exactly, should be appointed to the bench. And that those submissions should always have been treated formally, and with the greatest respect, almost as though they were submitted by Canadian citizens—their bosses. Liberals forgot all that nonsense.
“For the first time ever, submissions from the public will formally be part of the Supreme Court of Canada appointments process,” said Minister Cotler. “This initiative is an important component of a comprehensive reform that seeks to ensure greater transparency, respects the government’s constitutional authority in relation to these appointments and provides for an enhanced and significant degree of Parliamentary and provincial involvement and input.”
“For the first time ever”? Give me a large personal break.
Of course, they could make real democratic change, but they are liberals—“progressive” only in certain very well-defined areas. I dare them to submit to the rigors of the U.S. system. I dare them.
It goes on to provide the following information:
In view of the long-standing practice of identifying candidates from the region where the vacancy originated, only candidates from Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, the Northwest Territories and Nunavut will be considered.
Huh? That’s a Canadian region? I did not know that!
They left out the part where the judge MUST be a liberal-left judicial activist in favor of smoking pot, free taxpayer-funded abortions with absolutely no limits at all whatsoever, gay marriage and gay rights that trump all others’ rights in the entire country, and are generally, decidedly, anti-conservative in every which way. But I suppose they figured you knew all that.
Here’s the details:
Submissions are to be sent by September 20, 2005 to:
Judicial Affairs Advisor
Office of the Minister of Justice
284 Wellington Street
Ottawa, Ontario
K1A 0H8
E-mail: [email protected]
Fax: (613) 943-0139 or 1-866-512-6956
Further information on candidate eligibility criteria and the new appointments process is available at: http://canada.justice.gc.ca/en/news/nr/2005/doc_31586.html
An online version of the Proposal to Reform the Supreme Court of Canada is available at: http://canada.justice.gc.ca/en/dept/pub/scc/index.html
UPDATE 4:14 PM PDT
As if on cue, Canadian Press reporter Bruce Cheadle, who clearly reads my most excellent blog (hi Bruce!), reports thusly in his revision of his story from the above-posted original:
BRUCE CHEADLE
23 minutes agoOTTAWA (CP) – Some critics are dismissing it as nothing more than Canadian Idol for the legal set, as Justice Minister Irwin Cotler seeks public input into who should fill the next vacancy on Canada’s Supreme Court.
[…]
Actually, I said “American Idol”, and “Canadian Judicial Idol”.
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