Quebec Justice Minister Jolin-Barrette is in France looking for ways to improve the justice system
Quebec Justice Minister Simon Jolin-Barrette's diplomatic mission to France was not only an opportunity to discuss the French language, but also to exchange ideas on how to improve the justice system.
"They have solutions in France regarding judicial delays," explained Jolin-Barrette, after his meeting Friday with his French counterpart, Éric Dupond-Moretti.
Jolin-Barrette cited, among other things, "penal procedures," the equivalent of criminal law, where, "for minor offences, the procedure is done much more quickly."
In Canada, the Jordan decision has been much talked about since its inception in 2016.
The Supreme Court decision states that citizens facing criminal charges have a right to a trial "within a reasonable time" and has been used several times to stop prosecutions that were taking too long to reach a conclusion.
Although the Criminal Code is under federal jurisdiction, the courts that deal with these cases are often provincial.
Jolin-Barrette also said he wanted to draw inspiration from France in terms of modernizing the justice system.
"They are doing very good things about digitization, computerization of justice... They are already much more advanced than we are at that level," he said.
But it is not only Quebec which has an interest in taking notes, explained Dupond-Moretti in a communiqué.
"It seems to be very useful to be inspired by the Quebec experiences," he said. "Whether it is about violence against women, the development of mediation and amicable dispute resolution, restorative justice, or the status of lawyers in companies, the Quebec experiences are rich and can inspire new improvements in the service of the French."
"This meeting was an opportunity to present our model of specialized court and to exchange on recent initiatives implemented on both sides to fight against sexual violence and domestic violence," said Jolin-Barrette, adding that "Quebec is the first jurisdiction in the world to implement this structure."
Other topics will also be the subject of exchanges of best practices within a permanent working committee, including the layout of courthouses, restorative justice and out-of-court settlements.
Jolin-Barrette was on a diplomatic visit to France from June 22 to 25. He delivered a speech to the Académie française on Bill 96 and language preservation and met with the Secretary-General of the Organisation internationale de la Francophonie, Louise Mushikiwabo.
-- This report by The Canadian Press was first published in French on June 25, 2022.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'A beautiful soul': Funeral held for baby boy killed in wrong-way crash on Highway 401
A funeral was held on Wednesday for a three-month-old boy who died after being involved in a wrong-way crash on Highway 401 in Whitby last week.
Police handcuff man trying to enter Drake's Toronto mansion
Toronto police say a man was taken into custody outside Drake's Bridle Path mansion Wednesday afternoon after he tried to gain access to the residence.
U.S. presidential candidate RFK Jr. had a brain worm, has recovered, campaign says
Independent U.S. presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. had a parasite in his brain more than a decade ago, but has fully recovered, his campaign said, after the New York Times reported about the ailment.
Ontario Provincial Police arrest 64 suspects in child sexual exploitation investigation
Ontario Provincial Police say 64 suspects are facing a combined 348 charges in connection with a series of child sexual exploitation investigations that spanned the province.
Pfizer agrees to settle more than 10K lawsuits over Zantac cancer risk: Bloomberg News
Pfizer has agreed to settle more than 10,000 lawsuits about cancer risks related to the now discontinued heartburn drug Zantac, Bloomberg News reported on Wednesday, citing people familiar with the deal.
Quebec premier defends new museum on Quebecois nation after Indigenous criticism
Quebec Premier Francois Legault is defending his comments about a new history museum after he was accused by a prominent First Nations group of trying to erase their history.
Blind Sask. boy heading to international braille competition hopes to increase accessibility for visually impaired
A Saskatchewan boy who qualified for an international braille competition in Los Angeles next month hopes he can inspire change in his home province.
'A step forward': New screening criteria for sperm donors takes effect
Canadians looking to grow their families with the assistance of sperm or egg donations should soon have more options for donors as the federal health agency does away with longstanding restrictions criticized as discriminatory.
What is whooping cough and should Canadians be concerned as Europe declares outbreak?
There is currently a whooping cough epidemic in Europe, with 10 times as many cases compared to the previous two years. While an outbreak has not been declared nationwide in Canada, whooping cough is regularly detected in the country.