The sources spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss internal discussions about a Supreme Court appointment, which are typically considered highly confidential. The issue, the sources say, arose after Beverley McLachlin announced in June 2017 her decision to retire that December after 28 years on the high court, including 17 as chief justice. Her retirement meant the government would have to choose a new chief justice and find another bilingual judge from western or northern Canada to sit on the nine-member bench. Joyal criticized charter interpetation by SCOCWilson-Raybould's pick puzzled Trudeau but he became disturbed after doing some research into Joyal's views on the charter, the sources said. Sitting Supreme Court Justice Richard Wagner was elevated to the role of chief justice.

Source: CBC News March 25, 2019 19:01 UTC