Prime Minister Stephen Harper has appointed a Quebec Court of Appeal judge to fill a seat on the Supreme Court of Canada following the unsuccessful nomination of Quebec judge Marc Nadon.
In a statement released Tuesday afternoon, Harper named of Clement Gascon as his nominee to fill the seat vacated by Justice Morris Fish.
The appointment takes effect June 9.
Harper said in the statement that Gascon鈥檚 鈥渨ealth of legal knowledge and experience will be of significant benefit to this important Canadian institution.鈥�
鈥淗is appointment is the result of broad consultations with prominent members of the Quebec legal community,鈥� Harper said.
The nomination comes less than three months after the Supreme Court rejected the Conservatives鈥� appointment of Quebec Justice Marc Nadon.
In March, the Supreme Court ruled 6-1 that Nadon鈥檚 appointment was contrary to Quebec-specific provisions in the Supreme Court Act.
The appointment and subsequent rejection of Nadon to the bench of Canada鈥檚 highest court caused a firestorm of controversy over judiciary appointment rules and eligibility.
Gascon has served as a judge of the Quebec Court of Appeal since 2012. Prior to that, served for 10 years as a Quebec Superior Court judge.
Following the announcement Tuesday, a spokesperson for Justice Minister Peter MacKay said in an email to The Canadian Press that Gascon will not be expected to appear before a parliamentary committee because the selection process is under review.
The Supreme Court seat has been vacant since Fish鈥檚 retirement last summer. It is one of three seats on the high court bench reserved for Quebec.
With files from The Canadian Press
