History has proven that decisions based upon principle are in the long run sounder than decisions based upon today s popular opinion. When we grew up we became independent of our parents. We stopped basing our decisions on what would please them, or on what would get us a bigger allowance or the keys to the car. We learned to live according to the dictates of our own consciences. Canadians are entitled to an independent judiciary.
Independence means impartiality.
It is a guarantee of the institutional conditions of impartiality. It assures Canadians judicial decisions are based upon the law, not upon government pressure or upon who has the most power, money or influence. We ignore the importance of judicial independence at our peril.