Despite a setback in the Superior Court, the Minister of Justice, Simon Jolin-Barrette, maintained his position against the systematic bilingualism of all judicial candidates.
“In Quebec, all Quebecers must be able to access the highest positions,” he said.
Mr. Jolin-Barrette has not indicated whether he intends to appeal the decision stipulating that “the Minister of Justice has no power over the drafting of notices of selection of candidates for the office judge of the Court of Quebec”.
“I have never prevented the appointment of a bilingual judge,” he said in a press briefing at the National Assembly. I opened a lot of competitions where the requirement of mastering the English language was present. What I am saying is that in order to apply for the office of judge, it is not true that systematically, everywhere in Quebec, one should require proficiency in the English language. »
The Superior Court this week decided the standoff between two of the three branches of power of the Quebec state, namely the judicial power and the executive power. The Chief Justice of the Court of Quebec can indeed require bilingualism in the process of appointing judges against the will of the Minister of Justice.
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