FEDERAL COURT JUDICIAL APPOINTMENT ANNOUNCED

OTTAWA, May 14, 2010 – The Honourable Rob Nicholson, P.C., Q.C., M.P. for Niagara Falls, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada, today announced the following appointment:

The Honourable Marie-Josée Bédard, lawyer with the Public Service Labour Relations Board, is appointed to the Federal Court to replace Madam Justice D. Tremblay‑Lamer, who elected to become a supernumerary judge as of February 23, 2010.

Madam Justice Bédard received a Bachelor of Administration in 1989 and a Bachelor of Civil Law (magna cum laude) in 1992, both from the University of Ottawa. She was admitted to the Quebec Bar in 1993.

In 1992, Madam Justice Bédard articled with the firm Bédard, Saucier, where she later became partner. She joined the Société de transport de l'Outaouais in 2000 as Director of Human Resources and, in 2002, became a special advisor to senior management while holding her position as Director. In 2006, she was named the Société's General Manager, a position she held until her appointment as Vice-Chairperson of the Public Service Labour Relations Board in 2008. She has extensive experience in labour law, labour relations and human resources, as well as administrative law, civil rights and public law.

Madam Justice Bédard was a lecturer at the University of Ottawa's Faculty of Law from 2000 to 2004. She has been involved in Moot Court programs, as well as adjudication of grievances courses at the University of Ottawa since 1995.

This appointment is effective immediately.

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Ref.:

• Pamela Stephens
  Press Secretary
  Office of the Minister of Justice
  613-992-4621

• Media Relations
  Department of Justice
  613-957-4207