Judicial appointments: Minister rebuffs Smith's call for more provincial say

Federal Justice Minister Sean Fraser said he will keep the current judicial appointment process after Alberta Premier Danielle Smith asked for greater provincial input and warned she might withhold some judicial funding.

Federal Justice Minister Sean Fraser has rejected Alberta Premier Danielle Smith's request for a greater provincial role in federal judicial appointments. Smith said she would withhold some judicial funding if Ottawa did not agree to her demands. Fraser told journalists he plans to maintain the existing process and welcomed Alberta's participation in it. The Premier's office said the matter rests with Prime Minister Mark Carney and that they await his reply. Key points: - Sean Fraser said the current judicial appointment process will be maintained and described it as independent and rigorous. - Danielle Smith warned she would withhold some judicial funding if Ottawa did not change the selection process. - A spokesperson for the Premier said the issue awaits a response from Prime Minister Mark Carney. Summary: The disagreement concerns the level of provincial input into federal judicial appointments and remains unresolved. The Premier's office says it is awaiting a reply from the prime minister, while the justice minister has indicated he will keep the current process in place.