McLachlin Slams Jason Kenney

The Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Canada lays down the law in defence of the judiciary.

Chief Justice Beverly McLachlin has officially thanked the Canadian Bar Association for its public criticism of Immigration Minister Jason Kenney (that's right, the National Post actually reported on this.) Kenney came under fire for a speech he made in February where he accused Federal Court judges of causing delays and heavy-handed interference in immigration cases. McLachlin stressed the importance of an independent judiciary to the CBA’s governing council, urging that judges base decisions on law and not government policy. The nation’s top judge also discussed Canada’s low ranking in access to courts, urging Canadians to see it as a wake-up call. In a new study by the World Justice Institute, the Canadian legal system was deemed increasingly accessible only to the wealthy and to those who qualify for legal aid programs, leaving large gaps in access to the system.