Annual News Conference with the Parliamentary Press Gallery

Remarks by the Right Honourable Richard Wagner, P.C.
Chief Justice of Canada

Good morning everyone. Thank you very much for joining me today and for your interest in the Supreme Court of Canada. As always, I look forward to this opportunity to speak with you and answer your questions. I speak on behalf of the Court when I say we value the important role of the media in informing Canadians with accurate and reliable reports on the law, hearings, trials and legal issues.

This is my fifth annual news conference! Five years ago, I heard some express doubts about what I wanted to achieve by taking questions from the media. It really is simple - I want to answer questions people have about the Supreme Court of Canada and the country’s justice system. I want as many people as possible to understand the role and work of Canada’s top court. This is essential in building confidence in our independent and impartial courts.

That is why the Court now publishes a detailed annual report called the Year in Review, which accounts for its work and activities. Employees also produce plain-language summaries of Court judgments to explain the reasons behind every decision. And three years after our trip to Winnipeg, the Supreme Court will – for the second time in its history – hear cases outside Ottawa. From September 12 to 16, the Court will sit in Quebec City. The public is invited to attend the two hearings as well as a free event with all nine judges.

The Court recently expanded its online presence with a new Instagram account. It shares photos and information, often from outside the courtroom – such as my recent trip to Senegal. That is where I ended my three-year term as President de l’Association des cours constitutionnelles francophones. At home, I also chair the Advisory Council for the Order of Canada, the Canadian Judicial Council, and the National Judicial Institute. That is the organization that develops and delivers training to judges in Canada and abroad.

For example, the National Judicial Institute recently wrapped up a 15-year project supporting judicial reform in Ukraine, in partnership with the Office of Canada’s Commissioner of Judicial Affairs. Working with their Ukrainian counterparts, Canadian judges offered one-on-one mentorship and training on judgement writing, gender equality and managing conflicts of interest. The NJI also supported initiatives aimed at improving the process for selecting and appointing judges as well as improving judicial education and governance structures.

When I arrived at the Canadian Judicial Council as its chair in 2017, I reached out to chief and associate chief justices across Canada to hear their views about the future of the organization. From there, we struck a Renewal Committee and I am proud of its progress. The Council has since published guides for self-represented litigants, developed best practices for judges in case management, and published updated ethical principles for judges. We have also published summaries of all judicial education courses. Being transparent and sharing information about how judges continue their professional development is key to upholding confidence in our courts.

All of the stakeholders in the justice system are in the process of reevaluating what they do, how they do it and whether we are effectively meeting the needs of those we serve. We must not and cannot go back to how things were before the pandemic. Our justice system must continue to modernize and innovate.

I admit – it is a big task. Especially with so many courts facing backlogs and delays. Citizens expect access to justice in a timely matter. That is why the Action Committee on Court Operations in Response to Covid-19 continues to meet every month. It recently drafted a document for judges and court administrators called the Roadmap to Recovery. The goal is to support courts struggling with delays, backlogs, and managing change. It is full of practical suggestions on how to find efficiencies and develop best practices to deal with matters faster and more effectively. I encourage you to learn more about the roadmap on the website of Canada’s Commissioner of Federal Judicial Affairs.

Last year I told you how the Court would continue to offer the option of remote hearings, even after the Court re-opened. Now, we actively encourage remote hearings. The technology levels the playing field for all. Giving parties the option to make their case from wherever they choose offers substantial savings; especially to those farthest from Ottawa. This improves access to justice. Especially for interveners, such as public interest groups that present the Court with additional context and perspectives on challenging legal issues. Truly, it does not matter to Members of the Court if counsel is standing before them or appearing on screen. Strong, well-reasoned and persuasive arguments can be made from anywhere.

I am delighted to share that the Supreme Court is also nearing the completion of a long-term modernization project. Led by our General Counsel, this project has enhanced access to justice at every step. A quick example is how new processes and technology have improved public access to information online; such as factums, the Court docket, and live webcasts of hearings. The final component, expected by the end of this year, is a secure and efficient electronic filing portal for counsel and self-represented litigants.

Today, our Supreme Court building has started to gradually re-open after being closed to the public for more than two years. In that time, the Court has in many ways, become more accessible than ever. Through outreach to groups and schools across Canada, the Court welcomed 15-thousand visitors to remote guided tours last year. It is important to me that Canadians have these opportunities to learn that Canada’s courts are an impartial and independent pillar of Canada’s democracy – one of the strongest in the world.

Thank you. I am ready to take your questions.

Remarks by the Right Honourable Richard Wagner, P.C.
Chief Justice of Canada
On the occasion of the Annual News Conference with the Parliamentary Press Gallery
Sir-John-A.-Macdonald Building
Ottawa, Ontario
June 16, 2022

Related link

Archived video of the press conference