Here is an op-ed that Andrew Petter, Brian Smith and I have published, arguing that BC should have a dedicated seat on the Supreme Court of Canada. A timely piece, given the vacancy on the Court created by the resignation of Alberta Justice Russell Brown.
https://vancouversun.com/opinion/op-ed/andrew-petter-geoff-plant-and-brian-smith-b-c-s-status-on-the-line-with-ottawas-supreme-court-appointment
The vast majority of people pay little attention to the SCC, how it is composed, or what it does. On two occasions as a litigant proceeding without counsel my efforts elicited decisions from the BC Court of Appeal, but knowing the reality I didn't seriously consider applying for leave to the SCC. However, the curious train of developments that resulted in the current vacancy certainly caught my attention. Justice Brown resigned in response to the prospect of facing a CJC inquiry, and the CJC, which I first approached in 2010, is in major trouble itself. That reflects on the entire legal establishment and the justice system. 2023 has already been an unprecedented year and we have four and a half months to go. In B.C. we should also be paying some attention to the fact that Chief Justice Robert Bauman is retiring effective October 1. As he provided nearly nine months notice to the Justice Minister there's no excuse for that position not to be immediately filled by the next Chief Justice.
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