OTTAWA, May 22, 2003 - The Honourable Martin Cauchon, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada, today announced the appointment of Mr. Robert M. Emond as the first Chief Administrator to head the Courts Administration Service, effective July 2, 2003.

The position of Chief Administrator is established under the Courts Administration Service Act, which will come into force on July 2, 2003. The Act consolidates the administration of the Federal Court of Canada and the Tax Court of Canada into a single arms length agency that will provide administrative services to the Federal Court, the Federal Court of Appeal, the Court Martial Appeal Court and the Tax Court of Canada.

The establishment of the Service is intended to improve efficiencies, while enhancing the effectiveness of the Courts and respecting their independence. As the chief executive officer of the Courts Administration Service, Mr. Emond will be responsible for the management and administration of all court services.

With the enactment of the Courts Administration Service Act, the existing two divisions of the Federal Court of Canada will become a separate court of appeal and a trial court. The current Associate Chief Justice of the trial division will become Chief Justice of the Federal Court. The Chief Justice of the Federal Court, who currently presides over the appeal division, will become Chief Justice of the Federal Court of Appeal.

The Courts Administration Service Act also provides that the Tax Court will become a superior court to ensure it is an equal partner in the newly consolidated administration. The powers and jurisdiction of the Tax Court will not change.

Mr. Emond entered the Public Service in 1972 after receiving a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) degree in Public Administration from Carleton University. With more than 20 years of executive-level experience, Mr. Emond most recently served eight years as Assistant Deputy Minister of Finance and Corporate Services for the Department of National Defence.

Prior to that, he has held ADM-level positions with the Department of Finance and Treasury Board Secretariat, the Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions and Supply and Services Canada, which is now known as Public Works and Government Services Canada.

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Ref. :

Media Relations Office
Department of Justice
(613) 957-4207

Mike Murphy
Special Assistant, Communications
Minister Cauchon's Office
(613) 992-4621