Who should choose judges? The federal government or the provinces? A new debate is heating up.
Saskatchewan is joining other provinces to push for major changes in how Canada selects judges. Premier Scott Moe, along with leaders from Ontario, Quebec, and Alberta, wants provinces to play a bigger role in choosing judges.
In a letter to Prime Minister Mark Carney, the premiers argued that the current system gives too much control to the federal government. They say provinces should help select judges for higher courts, including provincial superior courts, courts of appeal, and even the Supreme Court of Canada.
Under their proposal, provinces would recommend and approve candidates, and officials would choose judges from that list. The premiers also want both federal and provincial governments to share equal access to information about candidates.
Supporters say this change could help courts better reflect local values and regional needs. Provinces, they argue, understand their communities and legal challenges more closely. Because of this, giving them a stronger voice could improve public trust in the justice system.
The premiers also pointed out that other countries, like the United States and Germany, already allow regional governments to help choose judges. In contrast, Canada relies more on a centralized system, where the federal government makes most of the decisions.
