Ensure that the appointment of Supreme Court Justices is transparent, inclusive and accountable to Canadians.

What success looks like

Greater transparency, accountability and diversity in the appointment of Supreme Court Justices.

Government's narrative on progress

In August 2016, the government announced a new, open and transparent process for making appointments to the Supreme Court of Canada. The process now involves: an open application process; the establishment of an Independent Advisory Board to assess all applications and prepare a shortlist of candidates; the requirement of functional bilingualism as an essential qualification for all shortlisted candidates; and consultations regarding the shortlist with key stakeholders, including members of the House of Commons Standing Committee on Justice. Justice Malcolm Rowe was the first Supreme Court Justice appointed under this new process in October 2016, followed by Justice Sheilah L. Martin in December 2017.

Note: this is the government's own description, not an independent assessment.