Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada announces a judicial appointment to the Federal Court
News release
September 23, 2024 – Ottawa, Ontario – Department of Justice Canada
The Honourable Arif Virani, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada, today announced the following appointment 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.
Benoit Duchesne, an Associate Judge of the Federal Court in Ottawa, is appointed a Judge of the Federal Court. Justice Duchesne replaces Justice P. Pamel who was elevated to the Federal Court of Appeal effective September 20, 2024.
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“I wish Justice Duchesne every success as he takes on his new role. I am confident he will serve Canadians well as a member of the Federal Court.”
—The Hon. Arif Virani, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada
Biography
Justice Benoit Duchesne was born in Montreal and raised in Ottawa. He obtained a Bachelor of Social Sciences degree (minors in Economics and Music) in 1993, a Licentiate in Civil Law (LL.L.) in 1996, and a Bachelor of Laws (LL.B.) degree in 2000, all from the University of Ottawa. He was admitted to the Barreau du Québec in 1998 and to the Law Society of Ontario in 2001.
Justice Duchesne is fluently bilingual. He was appointed Associate Judge of the Federal Court in 2022. He presided over case management conferences, motions, mediations, pre-trial and trial management conferences, and trials in proceedings across the Court’s jurisdiction. Prior to his appointment as an Associate Judge, he was a partner with Gowling WLG (Canada) LLP in Ottawa. Justice Duchesne enjoyed a broad bilingual and bijural practice primarily in civil, corporate and commercial, administrative, and municipal litigation before various tribunals and all Ontario, Quebec, and Federal courts including the Supreme Court of Canada. He was named to the Best Lawyers in Canada list by his peers and was a Lexpert ranked lawyer in recognition for his expertise in corporate and commercial litigation. He was also a part-time professor of civil procedure at the University of Ottawa from 2012 to 2022.
Justice Duchesne is grateful for the love and support of his spouse Jennifer and of his daughter Alexandra.
Quick facts
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The Government of Canada has appointed more than 775 judges since November 2015. This includes 151 appointments since the Honourable Arif Virani became Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada on July 26, 2023, a pace of appointments that has no precedent in Canadian History. These exceptional jurists represent the diversity that strengthens Canada. Of these judges, more than half are women, and appointments reflect an increased representation of racialized persons, Indigenous, 2SLGBTQI+, and those who self-identify as having a disability.
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To support the needs of the courts and improve access to justice for all Canadians, the Government of Canada is committed to increasing the capacity of superior courts. Budget 2022 provides for 22 new judicial positions, along with two associate judges at the Tax Court of Canada. Along with the 13 positions created under Budget 2021, this makes a total of 37 newly created superior court positions. Since Budget 2017, the government has funded 116 new judicial positions.
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Changes to the Questionnaire for Federal Judicial Appointments were announced in September 2022. The questionnaire continues to provide for a robust and thorough assessment of candidates but has been streamlined and updated to incorporate, among other things, more respectful and inclusive language for individuals to self-identify diversity characteristics.
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Federal judicial appointments are made by the Governor General, acting on the advice of the federal Cabinet and recommendations from the Minister of Justice.
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The Judicial Advisory Committees across Canada play a key role in evaluating judicial applications. There are 17 Judicial Advisory Committees, with each province and territory represented.
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Significant reforms to the role and structure of the Judicial Advisory Committees, aimed at enhancing the independence and transparency of the process, were announced on October 20, 2016.
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The Government of Canada is committed to promoting a justice system in which sexual assault matters are decided fairly, without the influence of myths and stereotypes, and in which survivors are treated with dignity and compassion. Changes to the Judges Act and Criminal Code that came into force on May 6, 2021, mean that in order to be eligible for appointment to a provincial superior court, candidates must agree to participate in continuing education on matters related to sexual assault law and social context, which includes systemic racism and systemic discrimination. The new legislation enhances the transparency of decisions by amending the Criminal Code to require that judges provide written reasons, or enter them into the record, when deciding sexual assault matters.
Contacts
For more information, media may contact:
Chantalle Aubertin
Deputy Director, Communications
Office of the Minister of Justice and Attorney General
613-992-6568
Chantalle.Aubertin@justice.gc.ca
Media Relations
Department of Justice Canada
613-957-4207
media@justice.gc.ca
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