Sylvain Lussier - Equality of all under the law: Quand les gouvernements doivent repondre devant les tribunaux

The McGill Law Journal presents Me Sylvain Lussier, former head prosecutor on the Charbonneau Commission, who will deliver the McGill Law Journal Annual Lecture.

Abstract

The Canadian legal system is based on the fundamental principle of the rule of law.The concept of the rule of law is conceived as a constitutional principle exerting an effective constraint on government action regardless of the existence of a formal constitutional or enabling statutory provision.

The importance of the rule of law is at the forefront of a number of Canadian decisions, including the famous Roncarelli v. Duplessis, where the Supreme Court of Canada recognized that a member of the government could be held personally liable for certain acts performed in the exercise of his or her functions.

It is in this context that the theme of "Equality of all under the law" is deemed to be so important. It entails that any political community adhering to the ideal of a state of law question and examines the respective roles of the legislator, the executive and the courts.

About the speaker

Maître Sylvain Lussier is a partner of the firm Osler, Hoskin and Harcourt in Montreal where he primarily practices in commercial litigation, administrative law and constitutional law. He acted as Prosecutor for the Government of the Canada before the Commission of inquiry into the sponsorship program and advertising. He taught administrative law at the University of Ottawa, the Université de Montréal and the Quebec Bar, and has authored a number of publications on civil procedure. According to the 2013 Best Lawyers edition in Canada, Maître Sylvain Lussier is recognized as the "best lawyer of the year in public and administrative law" of the city of Montreal.

A reception will follow in the Atrium.