Department of Justice

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

The Honourable Madam Justice France Thibault of Quebec City is appointed a judge of the Quebec Court of Appeal in Quebec City. She replaces the Honourable Madam Justice C. Tourigny, who passed away in September of this year.

The Honourable Madam Justice Thibault was called to the Quebec Bar in 1976. Prior to her appointment to the Superior Court of Quebec in January 1994, she practised law with the firm Grondin, Poudrier.

Marc Lesage of Quebec City is appointed a judge of the Superior Court of Quebec in Quebec City. He replaces Mr. Justice H. Walters, who has chosen to be come a supernumerary judge.

Mr. Justice Lesage obtained a Law degree from Laval University in 1966 and was called to the Quebec Bar in 1967. He practised law with the firm, Lavery de Billy, in which he has been a partner since 1977. He also headed this firm's Quebec City office.

Rita Bédard of Quebec City is appointed a judge of the Superior Court of Quebec in Quebec City. She replaces the Honourable Madam Justice France Thibault, who has been appointed to the Quebec Court of Appeal.

Madam Justice Bédard obtained a Law degree from Laval University in 1970 and was called to the Quebec Bar in 1971. She began her professional career as an analyst in socio-economic regulatory planning for Communications Canada. From 1972 to 1975, she served as legal counsel to the Federal Development Bank and the Régie du logement. From 1975 to 1987, Madam Justice Bédard served in succession as legal counsel, Director of Legal Affairs and Vice-President, Legal Affairs, for the Confédération des caisses populaires et d'économie Desjardins du Québec.

From 1987 to 1991, Madam Justice Bédard served as Assistant Deputy Minister in Quebec's Department of Municipal Affairs. She was then appointed to Quebec's Department of the Executive Council, where she served as Associate Secretary General responsible for the status of women. In 1994, she was appointed President of the appeal tribunal in matters relating to the preservation of agricultural land. Prior to her appointment to the bench, Madam Justice Bédard was President of the Commission municipale du Québec.

These appointments are effective immediately.

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