This sign, posted in rural Quebec, gives new meaning to the phrase ‘translator, traitor.’
Not much is written about Quebec legal developments in English.
Quebec Court of Appeal Justice Allan Hilton once lamented that it is a pity that most jurists outside Quebec have not yet acquired the reflex to routinely consider judgments from Quebec courts, unless they are translated.
Law in Quebec hopes to make a modest contribution for those interested in legal current events and Quebec jurisprudence. On this note please bear in mind the Italian adage ‘traduttore, traditore’ – literally meaning ‘translator, traitor.’
I am a law and business journalist. I have written for Canadian Lawyer, the National, a magazine published by the Canadian Bar Association, and The Lawyers Weekly, an independent legal Canadian publication. This website is in no way affiliated with any of these publications.
4 Comments
Me David J. Whitecotton
February 3, 2011 at 11:16Mr. Millàn,
Merci beaucoup and thanks so much, for creating this outlet for the Anglophone community, and those interested in the system of justice in Québec.
I’m an American lawyer (NY), newly minted as an attorney here in Québec, and residing in Québec City. Like yourself, I recognize a dearth in the availability of legal information to the Anglophone community.
Shannon case:
I’ve had the honor of meeting Me Charles Veilleux and on several occasions have attended the court proceedings over the past three weeks. The defense is comprised of a team of attorneys representing munitions giants General Dynamics Ordinance and Tactical Systems Canada, Inc., as well as the Attorney General of Canada; defending the Canadian Department of National Defense. The sum of defense attorneys present is far from two-fold that of the plaintiff.
The publicity surrounding the audit of Mr. Veilleux` personal income taxes comes at a crucial time in the case as, after several delays, the beginning of the testimony of a multitude of expert witnesses was finally under way. The Canada Revenue Agency has denied Mr. Veilleux` request for the delay of his tax audit, which reportedly is sought for the years 2007-2009; a strikingly recent period, and one for which Mr. Veilleux was embroiled in attempts to finance his plaintiff’s team.
Putting suspicion and claims of obstruction of justice aside, I contend that it’s indeed the duty of the Attorney General to request a postponement of the audit from his colleagues at the Agency of Revenue, until such time as the Shannon case has been fully heard. Failure of this duty would leave litigators of all actions against, or inconvenient to any Federal (or Provincial) agency, unfairly vulnerable to well-timed tax audits and other forms of menace and possible abuse. An excerpt of the role of the Attorney General (link below):
“The Attorney General’s litigation duties are regarded as a constitutional responsibility which include protection of the public interest and public rights in the country.”
http://www.canadafaq.ca/what+is+the+attorney+general+of+canada/
Luis Millán
February 4, 2011 at 17:04Thank you Mr. Whitecotton for taking the time to provide your personal insights into the Veilleux affair. It is appreciated.
Barb
January 23, 2011 at 15:14Best blog I have seen with news I haven’t seen and I love the cartoons. Hopefully posting some of the plain-language ones where I work will improve writing here too!
knowledgetoday
March 28, 2009 at 16:26I love your site. Keep it up !