Department of Justice

OTTAWA, June 25, 1998 -- The Honourable Anne McLellan, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada, today announced the following appointments:

The Honourable Mr. Justice Kenneth MacKenzie of the Supreme Court of British Columbia is appointed a judge of the Court of Appeal of British Columbia. He replaces Mr. Justice G.S. Cumming, who has chosen to become a supernumerary judge.

Mr. Justice MacKenzie obtained a LL.B. from the University of British Columbia in 1961, a LL.M. from the University of Michigan Law School in 1962, and a S.J.D. from the same university in 1968. He was called to the Bar of British Columbia in 1963.

Prior to his appointment to the Supreme Court of British Columbia in 1992, Mr. Justice MacKenzie practised law with the firm Guild, Yule & Company in Vancouver. He has also served as a Member of the Law Reform Commission of British Columbia.

C. Lynn Smith, QC, of Vancouver is appointed a judge of the Supreme Court of British Columbia in Vancouver. She replaces Mr. Justice K.C. MacKenzie, who was appointed to the Court of Appeal.

Madam Justice Smith graduated in law from the University of British Columbia in 1973, and was called to the Bar of British Columbia in 1974.

Madam Justice Smith was a clerk for the Chief Justice of British Columbia, and then practised general litigation in Vancouver with the firm of Shrum, Liddle & Hebenton (now McCarthy Tétrault) from 1974 to 1981. Madam Justice Smith joined the Faculty of Law at the University of British Columbia in 1981, and served as Dean of the Faculty of Law from 1991 to 1997. She taught in such areas as evidence, civil litigation, the Charter and equality rights. Madam Justice Smith has acted as an arbitrator of grievances under collective agreements and has served on a Board of Inquiry into human rights complaints as well as various advisory committees to the B.C. government, including the Special Advisors to the Minister of Labour on the Industrial Relations Act and the Advisory Committee to the Commission on Public Service and the Public Sector.

Madam Justice Smith has published in the fields of human rights, the Charter, equality rights, women's rights, as well as civil litigation.

These appointments are effective immediately.

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