Supreme Court in a narrow decision rules Ottawa right

[Kerrazy]

OTTAWA – A divided Supreme Court of Canada says the federal government has the right to order the destruction of Quebec’s federal gun registry data – but all three Quebec judges on the court disagreed.

By a 5-4 margin, the Supreme Court upheld an earlier Quebec Court of Appeal ruling that sided with the government on its controversial decision to abolish the federal registry for long guns in 2011.

[smitty55]

That's great news. Tks for sharing
What I'd like to know is how 1 province gets 3 out of 9 members on the supreme court? Quebec already gets way too many concessions from this country as it is.

Cheers

[Kerrazy]

Well, it is an election year?

[flewdogg]

Quebec gets the three because the Supreme Court Act says so. Way back the wise politicians decided they should have three because they have a different (civil) legal system than the rest of the (common law) provinces. They needed three to have enough judges to hear appeals on Quebec civil issues. I am a lawyer, trained in the common law, and have no clue about Quebec civil laws, and this goes for the majority of non-Quebec lawyers. So they thought it wise to put a set number of judges well versed in that legal system on the top court.

Not defending it, just answering the question...

[ShawnD]

Well, it is an election year?

I was under the assumption that Supreme court Judges are pointed by the Judges that are currently, they vote in their own.

[flewdogg]

Nope, Shawn, federal government (prime minister basically) appoints Supreme Court judges.

[Kerrazy]

It was more of a clearly misinformed statement, based on historical data.


But...

Governor General, Prime Minister & Supreme Court Appointments
The power to appoint Supreme Court justices is held exclusively by the executive branch of the federal government, in particular, the Governor General and the Prime Minister.