Canadian Justice Review Board - Press Release - August 23, 2005. “similar to those currently under investigation by the Gomery inquiry."

Canadian Justice Review Board - Press Release - August 23, 2005

Chairman David Kahn.
"Consistent with Mr. Sabourin's cavalier style to which we had earlier drawn attentionhe indicated that he did not intend to comply with Treasury Board rules", commented CJRB chairman David Kahn. “Reluctance to comply with these policy directives could signal financial mismanagement problems possibly similar to those currently under investigation by the Gomery inquiry.”

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David Kahn is the chairman of the Canadian Justice Review Board.

The secret association called the Canadian Judicial Council continues to be protected by the news media in Canada. Members of the legal community across Canada are raising serious questions about the secret conduct and procedures of the Canadian Judicial Council. Chief Justice McLachlin can not continue to ignore the duties and responsibilities to Canadians as the Canadian Judicial Council chairman. Where is the news media, waiting for a publication ban?

Canadian Justice Review Board
August 23, 2005 PRESS RELEASE:

Today, the Canadian Justice Review Board (CJRB) turned up the heat on the Canadian Judicial Council (CJC) by pressing the CJC to disclose its contracting, travel, and hospitality expenses in compliance withTreasury Board rules. The Canadian Justice Review Board, a coalition of citizens, also wants the CJC to follow the new "proactive" disclosure policy announced on March 23rd. 2004.

In a pointed letter to the CJC, CJRB chairman Dave Kahn said "the required information is noticeably absent from the CJC website, its annual report and its financial statement." (click to view letter)

"We are fed up with the CJC stalling on these important financial questions. They are keeping informationsecret that the public has every right to know," says CJRB executive director William Nichol. "The CJRB has been going after this material for more than 8 months. The rules governing 'contracting' and judges' 'travel' and 'hospitality' are very straightforward and we note that the Commissioner for Federal Judicial Affairs complies with these rules. We are not aware of any legitimate reason that the Canadian Judicial Council should not", says Nichol. "They are a publicly funded agency that is supposed to be responsible to Canadians for assuring the justice system is operated in a transparent and exemplary fashion".

The rules are outlined in the Guidelines for Ministers' Offices and in Treasury Board's Travel Directive and Special Travel Authorities . . "The directives provide only for the reimbursement of reasonable travel expenses incurred during governmentbusiness. The Government of Canada extends hospitality in accordance with the rules and principles outlined in the Guidelines for Ministers' Offices and the Treasury BoardHospitality Policy", the rulebook says. "The objective of the policy is to ensure that hospitality is extended in an economical and affordable way when it facilitates governmentbusiness or is considered desirable as a matter of courtesy and protocol."

After pressing the CJC to produce a financial statement last year, the CJRB sought disclosure of this missing information. CJC executive director Norman Sabourin refused in a letter on May 25th 2005(click to view letter). "Consistent with Mr. Sabourin's cavalier style to which we had earlier drawn attentionhe indicated that he did not intend to comply with Treasury Board rules", commented CJRB chairman David Kahn. Reluctance to comply with these policy directives could signal financial mismanagement problems possibly similar to those currently under investigation by the Gomery inquiry.

The CJRB has urged CJC chairman Chief Justice McLachlin to review and remedy this unsatisfactorysituation.
For further information, contact Canadian Justice Review Board Chairman David A Kahn by e-mail davidakahn@canadianjusticereviewcouncil.ca