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C-9Royal assent received

Changing the Rules for Judges

Changes for Judges

Introduced Dec 16, 2021·Last discussed Jun 22, 2023
Summary

This proposed law, which is now approved, changes the rules about how judges can take time off work. It lets judges take temporary leave from their jobs. They can use this time for things like going back to school for more training or helping other countries with their legal systems. This change affects all federally appointed judges in Canada. It also affects the Canadian Judicial Council, which is responsible for managing the conduct of judges. This matters because it gives judges more opportunities to improve their skills and contribute to the legal community, both in Canada and internationally. It also modernizes the rules around judicial leave, making them more flexible and relevant to the needs of today's judges.

Bill Timeline
Introduced in the House
Dec 16, 2021
Vote to limit debate on Bill C-9Passed
174 Yea144 Nay
Oct 26, 2022
Approved in principle (House)
Oct 31, 2022
Vote on Bill C-9 — approve in principlePassed
327 Yea0 Nay
Oct 31, 2022
Passed the House
Dec 9, 2022
Introduced in the Senate
Dec 13, 2022
Approved in principle (Senate)
Mar 9, 2023
Passed the Senate
Jun 1, 2023
Became law
Jun 22, 2023
Where This Lands on Key Issues

Where this proposed law falls on the policy spectrums that Canadians care about

Political & Electoral ReformOpen to considering reforms

The bill makes minor adjustments to judicial processes, such as allowing temporary leave, which can be seen as a small adjustment to the existing political system. It doesn't fundamentally alter the electoral system or democratic representation, but it does represent a slight modification to judicial administration.

This bill
Bill Quality
Solid

This proposed law updates how complaints against judges are handled, aiming for a clearer and fairer process. However, it leaves many specifics to be determined later, and the new system's effectiveness will depend on how those details are filled in.

Things to Watch For

  • The selection criteria for lay persons on the roster should be carefully considered to ensure diverse perspectives.
  • The independence of the Complaints Screening Officer is important, but the law doesn't guarantee it.
  • The definition of 'undermine public confidence' is broad and could be applied inconsistently.
  • The process for removing judges needs to be transparent to maintain public trust.
  • The costs of the new review process are unclear, and it is not clear who will pay for them.
Progress

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