Atlantic: Atlantic Canada and Court

atlantic: Supreme Court seat could still go to Atlantic Canada, says Casey Keep Atlantic representation on top court, says Canadian Bar Association Atlantic Canada being treated like a 'backwater' with Supreme Court snub: Lisa Raitt Justin Trudeau outlines selection process for new Supreme Court justices Traditionally, when a justice retires the appointment goes to someone from the same region of the country, according to CBC. Justice Thomas Cromwell of Nova Scotia will retire next month but there now no guarantee his replacement will come from Atlantic Canada. Nicole O'Byrne, an associate professor at the University of New Brunswick faculty of law, told Information Morning Fredericton the change represents "a huge change in direction by the government." Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has opened nominations for a soon-to-be-vacant Supreme Court of Canada seat to all regions and asked a new non-partisan hiring advisory board to ensure Canada ethnic diversity on the Supreme Court bench is reflected in its recommendation. Justice Thomas Cromwell has announced he will retire in September. The mandate calling for diversity on the court creates a particular problem for Atlantic Canada, said O'Byrne. "It difficult because the challenge here is Atlantic Canada is one of the least ethnically diverse areas of the country," said O'Byrne. "It just so happens that as the government has decided to change directions on diversity, the next spot open on the court is one that represents typically a region of the country that is not ethnically diverse as other areas of the country." O'Byrne said the makeup of the court has been criticized in recently for not reflecting the true diversity of the country. O'Byrne said the constitutional convention has been to maintain a balance of three justices from Ontario, three from Quebec, two from Western Canada and one from Atlantic Canada. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.