Uphold the rule of law
Totally agree with this editorial. As a lawyer, I am very concerned about these developments. If we want to maintain the rule of law, we must ensure that the fundamental principles are respected in order to maintain the necessary independence between the powers. I also hope that the Barreau will submit a strong brief in this regard as part of the consultation process. Fortunately, the media like yours remain on the lookout and inform the public of these crucial issues for our society. Public confidence in our institutions depends on it. We see the catastrophic results in other countries of this decline in confidence…
Hélène Beauchemin, lawyer
The courage to act
Why lay the blame on the minister rather than on the magistrates, who seem to place themselves above any control on the part of elected officials? Simon Jolin-Barette may simply have the courage to act, which his predecessors failed to do.
Rene Rochon, Bromont
Wisdom
Your editorial is full of wisdom. Right now, isn’t it Israel that wants to pass a law that restricts the authority of judges? Citizens take to the streets there and in our country, no one moves.
Pierre Normandeau
Politicize the system
I believe that Minister Jolin-Barrette is trying to politicize the judicial system. The same thing happened in Turkey, Russia, China and even in the United States. We have seen the results. I’m starting to worry about the progress of the CAQ.
Richard Fontaine, Dudswell
Dangerous
Are we in the United States to ensure that the judiciary is under the control of the government? If we are not there yet, we are getting dangerously close, in my opinion.
Lisa David
Never
Since the resounding victory of the CAQ in the last election, Mr. Dubé, Mr. Drainville and now Mr. Jolin-Barette have presented bills to increase their power over their departments and employees. What might be needed to run a bureaucracy that is overflowing with what is necessary. But, in no case, can politics control (even partially) the courts. The courts are the protector of rights, but above all of democracy.
Yvan Sauvageau
A form of relentlessness
Leave the judiciary alone? It’s an excellent idea that François Legault will not retain. The latest events, including the cancellation of several calls for candidates, clearly demonstrate that this is a form of unjustified relentlessness, and the Minister has stretched the elastic band to its maximum.
Lise St-Laurent
Total disagreement
I completely disagree with you. It is Chief Judge Lucie Rondeau who is looking for the chicanery. Simon Jolin-Barrette does well to limit the political game of the Conseil de la magistrature. If the chief justice does not like the CAQ, she has only to present herself in politics.
Roger Gobeil
Budgets voted by duly elected MPs
Could it be that the scope of the principle of judicial independence is too broad in Quebec, even going so far as to exceed the power of the National Assembly to annually vote the appropriations/budgets of the special funds necessary for the proper functioning of the State? ? However, at the federal level, we seem to find it normal that the budgets of the Canadian Judicial Council are voted on by MPs. This does not seem to infringe the said principle of judicial independence. In my humble opinion (not being a lawyer), it seems desirable to me that the budgets of the Conseil de la magistrature du Québec be examined/questioned and voted on by the duly elected members of the National Assembly.
Michel Guimond, L’Ancienne-Lorette