(Montreal) The diplomatic mission of Minister Simon Jolin-Barrette in France will not only have been an opportunity to discuss the French language, but also to discuss the improvements to be made to the justice system.
Posted at 12:48 p.m.
“They have possible solutions in France with respect to judicial delays,” explained the Quebec Minister of Justice in a telephone interview, after his meeting on Friday with his French counterpart, Éric Dupond-Moretti.
Mr. Jolin-Barrette cited, among other things, “criminal proceedings”, the equivalent of criminal law, where, “for minor offences, the procedure is done much more quickly”.
In Canada, the Jordan decision has been the subject of much ink since its inception in 2016. The Supreme Court ruling states that citizens facing criminal charges are entitled to a trial “within a reasonable time” , and has been used several times to end lawsuits that were taking too long to come to fruition.
Although the Criminal Code falls under federal jurisdiction, the courts that deal with these cases are often provincial.
Minister Jolin-Barrette also said he wanted to draw inspiration from France when it comes to modernizing the justice system. “They are doing very good things about digitization, computerization of justice […] they are already much more advanced than us at this level,” he remarked.
But it’s not just Quebec that has an interest in taking notes, explained Mr. Dupond-Moretti in a press release. “It seems to me very useful to draw inspiration from Quebec’s experiences,” he said. Whether it concerns violence against women, the development of mediation and amicable means of resolving disputes, restorative justice, or the status of corporate lawyers, Quebec’s experiences are rich and could inspire new improvements in the service of French men and women. »
“This meeting was an opportunity to present our specialized court model and to discuss recent initiatives implemented on both sides to fight against sexual violence and domestic violence,” said Mr. Jolin-Barrette. , recalling that “Quebec is the first jurisdiction in the world to set up” this structure.
Other subjects will also be the subject of exchanges of best practices within a permanent working committee, including the layout of courthouses, restorative justice and out-of-court settlements.
Mr. Jolin-Barrette was on a diplomatic visit to France from June 22 to 25. In particular, he gave a speech to the French Academy on the subject of Law 96 and the preservation of the language and met the Secretary General of the International Organization of La Francophonie, Louise Mushikiwabo.