I am honoured to say a few words at the opening of this Annual Meeting. C’est un très grand honneur pour moi d’être parmi vous audourd’hui, pour prononcer cette conference annuelle de la section canadienne de la Commission internationale des jurists. Bienvenue à Vancouver.

The association of the Supreme Court of Canada with ICJ Canada goes right back to the organization’s inception.   In 1958, Justice Ivan Rand of our Court was one of the seven original applicants for letters patent and his name appears first on the list of members.   The current member from the Supreme Court, Ian Binnie, has undertaken his responsibilities as Commissioner and a member of Council with great enthusiasm.   Before him, Claire L’Heureux-Dubé was both a Commissioner and International President.   I and a number of my colleagues on the Supreme Court are Council members.

Founded in the aftermath of the Second World War to protect and promote human rights through the rule of law, the ICJ continues to be a highly relevant and influential body.   ICJ continues to lobby for improvements and change in countries where respect for human rights has historically been low.   And that is just part of its work.   Recent events have brought new problems and new challenges.   The bombing of the World Trade towers in September of 2001, and the subsequent bombings in Bali, Madrid and London, have provoked new concerns in western democracies as they implement security measures to grapple with the terrorist threat.   The uneasy balance between the rule of law and the steps taken to fight terrorism is no more felt than in the sphere of human rights.   In his speech in Saskatoon earlier this year, Justice Binnie spoke of this balance, and stressed the critical importance of the Charter in providing a framework for finding ways to address the threat of terrorism in ways that are both rational and proportional.  

As Canadian lawyers and judges, we understand, as many do not, that justice and law are two indispensable pillars of democracy and that the rule of law and human rights are inseparable partners.   We have a duty to ensure that both are safeguarded and, indeed, strengthened. The Canadian section of ICJ is one of the institutes through which we fulfil this duty.   The task is difficult and delicate.   But it is of the highest importance, not only for our country, but for the world.  

My sincere wishes for a productive meeting. Je vous souhaite des délibérations fructueuses. Merci.