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Michel BastaracheFormer Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of Canada
Date of Birth: 10.06.1947
Country:  Canada |
Content:
- Early Life and Education
- Legal Career in New Brunswick
- Political Involvement
- Appointment to the Supreme Court of Canada
- Post-Supreme Court Career
Early Life and Education
Michel Bastarache was born in Quebec and obtained a Bachelor of Arts from the Université de Moncton in 1967. In 1972, he graduated from the Law Faculty of the Université de Nice.
Legal Career in New Brunswick
Bastarache worked as a judge on the New Brunswick Court of Appeal before being appointed to the Supreme Court of Canada in 1997. Throughout his career, he has been a strong advocate for the rights of language minorities.
In 1982, Bastarache led the Poirier-Bastarache Commission, which recognized the equality of both official languages in New Brunswick. For his contributions and dedication to Canada's Francophone and Acadian communities, he was named a Companion of the Order of Canada in 2009.
Political Involvement
Bastarache was actively involved in politics, serving as a candidate advisor for the Liberal Party of Canada in the 1993 election and chairing the New Brunswick committee in support of the Charlottetown Accord in 1992.
Appointment to the Supreme Court of Canada
Bastarache's appointment to the Supreme Court in 1997 sparked controversy due to his political affiliations. The Reform Party of Canada criticized his ties to Jean Chrétien and the Liberal Party, while the Bloc Québécois expressed concerns about his known federalist views.
Post-Supreme Court Career
After retiring from the Supreme Court in 2008, Bastarache continued to play a significant role in public service. In 2010, he was appointed by the Charest government to head a commission of inquiry into the appointment process for judges in Quebec.
He also served as a negotiator for the Bathurst Catholic Diocese in New Brunswick, helping to facilitate compensation for victims of sexual abuse by priests. Additionally, he was appointed as a judge on the Independent Interim Electoral Commission for the Resolution of Constitutional Disputes in Kenya.
