Friday, February 24, 2006
Justice Dept of Canada - Representin' the 204
Today, Stephen Harper nominated Marshall Rothstein to the Supreme Court of Canada. He will also be the first (and hopefully not the last) Supreme Court of Canada nominee to have to answer to parliament!
I think that he's a great choice. Since Harper announced that all judicial nominees would be vetted by parliament, it was very wise to choose somebody who's as widely respected as Rothstein.
Rothstein was ex-Justice Minister Allan Rock's suggestion to fill the post as well, which means that the grilling he receives from Liberal MP's should be tame. As The Star notes:
Vic Toews was also a student of his at the University of Manitoba, which can mean only good things for those of us who believe that the punishment should fit the crime.
Rothstein's is to replace a judge from Alberta, so it also keeps the East/West representation on the court intact. I do feel more comfortable knowing that there is a local-boy on the court, with fellow-local-boy Vic Toews, running the show at the Justice Department. I can sleep soundly at night knowing this crew won't do anything wierd.
The fact that the Toronto Star didn't chastize and berate the nomination, goes to show that Harper is making a serious effort to build multi-party consensus in parliament before ram-rodding through major decisions. Proof of this, is the fact that this his the first judicial nominee who will actually have to answer to the people's representatives (i know it sounds odd).
The contrast in styles is obvious to the casual observer. At the beginning of Paul Martin's minority government, King Paul tried to hijack the Throne Speach, and almost had his government chucked out when he tried to refuse the Conservatives, Bloc, and NDP their right to consent (its only their right in a minority government).
This nomination should also do the trick in regards to shutting down "Emerson-gate". Harper needs to keep his public image as "a uniter, not a divider" (to steal GWB's election line). He will have allies on the other side of the aisle for most of his initiatives, although those allies will be in constant flux. If the other parties have nothing to bitch about for the duration of this government, I think the Conservative's will look pretty good come our next (hopefully not too bloody soon) election.
I think that he's a great choice. Since Harper announced that all judicial nominees would be vetted by parliament, it was very wise to choose somebody who's as widely respected as Rothstein.
Rothstein was ex-Justice Minister Allan Rock's suggestion to fill the post as well, which means that the grilling he receives from Liberal MP's should be tame. As The Star notes:
Liberal interim leader Bill Graham called Rothstein "a superior jurist." Graham and several other opposition politicians said they expect questioning at Monday's ad hoc, all-party committee to focus mostly on issues of judicial philosophy, and not on Rothstein's personal opinions.
Vic Toews was also a student of his at the University of Manitoba, which can mean only good things for those of us who believe that the punishment should fit the crime.
Rothstein's is to replace a judge from Alberta, so it also keeps the East/West representation on the court intact. I do feel more comfortable knowing that there is a local-boy on the court, with fellow-local-boy Vic Toews, running the show at the Justice Department. I can sleep soundly at night knowing this crew won't do anything wierd.
The fact that the Toronto Star didn't chastize and berate the nomination, goes to show that Harper is making a serious effort to build multi-party consensus in parliament before ram-rodding through major decisions. Proof of this, is the fact that this his the first judicial nominee who will actually have to answer to the people's representatives (i know it sounds odd).
The contrast in styles is obvious to the casual observer. At the beginning of Paul Martin's minority government, King Paul tried to hijack the Throne Speach, and almost had his government chucked out when he tried to refuse the Conservatives, Bloc, and NDP their right to consent (its only their right in a minority government).
This nomination should also do the trick in regards to shutting down "Emerson-gate". Harper needs to keep his public image as "a uniter, not a divider" (to steal GWB's election line). He will have allies on the other side of the aisle for most of his initiatives, although those allies will be in constant flux. If the other parties have nothing to bitch about for the duration of this government, I think the Conservative's will look pretty good come our next (hopefully not too bloody soon) election.
