Comments made by Canada’s Justice Minister Peter MacKay about the dearth of women and visible minorities in federally appointed courts that they just “aren’t applying” stunned lawyers at a meeting in Toronto June 13, and became the focus of questions in the House of Commons Thursday (June 19).
In response to a question at the meeting the Minister suggested women had a special bond with children and fear an “old boys” network on the bench.
According to Toronto Star journalist Tonda MacCharles “Several of the men and women at the meeting of the Ontario Bar Association’s council described the remarks to the Star variously as ‘disappointing,’ ‘bizarre,’ ‘frustrating’ or ‘offensive’. ”
In the House of Commons Question Period, the opposition parties focused most of their questions on the Minister’s remarks.
RCI’s Wojtek Gwiazda has a report.
ListenMore information:
Toronto Star/ Tonda MacCharles – Peter MacKay tries to explain lack of diversity on federal courts – here
National Post – Justice Minister Peter MacKay defends suggestion women are too busy with their kids to be judges – here
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