Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada announces judicial appointments to the Tax Court of Canada

March 28, 2022 – Ottawa, Ontario – Department of Justice Canada  

The Honourable David Lametti, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada, today announced the following appointments under the judicial application process established in 2016. This process emphasizes transparency, merit,and the diversity of the Canadian population, and will continue to ensure the appointment of jurists who meet the highest standards of excellence and integrity.

Jean Marc Gagnon, Senior Advisor at MNP LLP in Montréal, is appointed a Judge of the Tax Court of Canada. Justice Gagnon fills one of the two new positions authorized further to the Budget Implementation Act, 2021, No. 1.  

Joanna Hill, Senior Counsel at Justice Canada in Ottawa, is appointed a Judge of the Tax Court of Canada. Justice Hill fills one of the two new positions authorized further to the Budget Implementation Act, 2021, No. 1.

Quote

 “I wish Justices Gagnon and Hill every success in their new roles. I know they will serve Canadians well as members of the Tax Court of Canada.”

—The Hon. David Lametti, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada

Biographies

Justice Jean Marc Gagnon was born in Granby, Quebec. He completed a law degree at the University of Sherbrooke Faculty of Law in 1987 and was called to the Quebec bar in 1989. He then completed a master’s degree in taxation at the University of Sherbrooke Faculty of Management in 1990.

Justice Gagnon practiced tax law for most of his career with Fraser Milner Casgrain LLP (now Dentons) as both an associate and partner, and with Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP as partner. He recently joined MNP LLP tax group in Montreal. His tax practice included a broad range of domestic public and private corporate income tax and federal and provincial sales tax considerations. He also developed expertise in mandates dealing with the introduction of tax measures. Tax controversy resolution files and litigation mandates involving tax implications have been a considerable part of his practice over the past 15 years.

Justice Gagnon has been a contributor to various tax publications and conferences throughout his years of practice including for public and private tax associations and Canadian research institutes. He has also contributed to university teaching during his years in private practice. He was involved for many years with fundraising campaigns of public foundations in the Greater Montreal.

Justice Joanna Hill was born in Kingston, Jamaica, and moved to Ottawa when she was five years old. She obtained her undergraduate degree at the University of Western Ontario and, after two years in the workforce, decided to follow in her parents’ footsteps and become a lawyer. She obtained her law degree from the University of Ottawa Faculty of Law and clerked for the Honourable Douglas Campbell at the Federal Court.

Justice Hill was Senior Counsel in the Tax Law Services Section of the Department of Justice in Ottawa. Her area of expertise is registered charity litigation, and she has made numerous appearances in complex appeals and applications before the Federal Court of Appeal and the Ontario Superior Court of Justice. Her practice also included arguing tax assessment and administrative and enforcement matters before the Tax Court of Canada, Federal Court, and Federal Court of Appeal.

A member of the Advocates’ Society, Justice Hill has contributed to Women in the Law Symposiums as a panelist and mentor and as co-chair of the 2019 Ottawa symposium; she also acted as co-chair of the 2022 Tax Litigation Program. She has been a presenter and part of the organizing committees for various training conferences for the Department of Justice and the Canada Revenue Agency. She also has served on several Department of Justice committees, including those that promote advocacy with factum reviews and moots for Federal Court of Appeal and Supreme Court of Canada appeals.

Justice Hill lives in Ottawa with her husband and two wonderful, accomplished daughters.