Department of Justice

, March 19, 1997 -- The Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada, Allan Rock, today announced the following appointments:

Arthur Gans of Toronto is appointed a judge of the Ontario Court (General Division) in Toronto. He replaces Mr. Justice A.J. Davidson, who resigned.

Mr. Justice Gans graduated in law from the University of Toronto in 1972, and was called to the Bar of Ontario in 1974.

Mr. Justice Gans first practised law with the firm of Miller, Thomson, Lewis & Healy. In 1987, he joined the firm of Fogler, Rubinoff, with whom he mainly practised civil and administrative litigation. Mr. Justice Gans was certified a specialist in civil litigation by the Law Society of Upper Canada in 1991.

Catherine Aitken of Ottawa is appointed a judge of the Ontario Court (General Division) in Ottawa. She replaces Mr. Justice H. Soublière, who has chosen to become a supernumerary judge.

Madam Justice Aitken graduated in law from Queen's University in 1973, and was called to the Bar of Ontario in 1975. She has been a partner with the firm of Steinberg, Aitken, Allard since 1996. She previously practised law in Ottawa with the firms of Nelligan, Power and Aitken, Greenberg. Madam Justice Aitken has mainly practised family law.

Mary Anne Sanderson of Toronto is appointed a judge of the Ontario Court (General Division) in Toronto. She replaces Madam Justice D.J. Haley, who has chosen to become a supernumerary judge.

Madam Justice Sanderson graduated in law from the University of Windsor in 1974, and was called to the Bar of Ontario in 1976.

Madam Justice Sanderson practised civil litigation with the firm of Lerner and Associates from 1977 to 1981 in London, and since then in Toronto. Madam Justice Sanderson has been president of the Advocates' Society.

Katherine Swinton of Toronto is appointed a judge of the Ontario Court (General Division) in Toronto. She replaces Madam Justice L. Gotlib, who resigned.

Madam Justice Swinton graduated in law from Osgoode Hall in 1975, obtained a LL.M. from Yale University in 1977, and was called to the Bar of Ontario in 1979.

Madam Justice Swinton has taught in the areas of constitutional and labour law at the University of Toronto since 1979, and has published extensively on these subjects. Madam Justice Swinton has also acted as a labour arbitrator in the private and public sectors since 1979. She has been Vice-Chair of the Ontario Public Service Grievance Settlement Board and Chair of the Ontario Education Relations Commission. Since 1996, she has been a member of the Disputes Settlement Panel, Agreement on Internal Trade.

These appointments are effective immediately.

Bernard Manton of Ottawa is appointed a judge of the Ontario Court (General Division) in Ottawa. He replaces Mr. Justice P. Mercier, who has chosen to become a supernumerary judge.

Mr. Justice Manton graduated in law from the University of Ottawa in 1960, and was called to the Bar of Ontario in 1962.

Mr. Justice Manton has practised civil litigation in Ottawa and has been a partner with Beament, Green, Dust since 1985. He is a member of the Association des juristes d'expression française de l'Ontario.

This appointment is effective April 8, 1997.

Ref.:   Johanne Senécal
        Minister's Office
        (613) 992-4621