CONDOLENCE STATEMENT C O N D O L E

							                        C O N D O L E N C E ST A T EM E N T
For Immediate Release                                               Ministry of Attorney General
2009AG0001-000020
June 18, 2009

    ATTORNEY GENERAL’S STATEMENT ON JUSTICE WILLIAM MCINTYRE

VICTORIA – Attorney General Michael de Jong made the following statement today regarding
the death of retired Supreme Court of Canada Justice William McIntyre:

       “Justice William McIntyre will be sadly missed by his colleagues in the justice system
and by those who benefitted from the wisdom of his thoughtful decisions. He brought a tireless
determination to his responsibilities as a Supreme Court of Canada justice, surpassed only by the
meticulous nature of his legal reasoning.

         “His peers in Victoria, where he practised for over 20 years, may recall his sharp legal
wit and concern for ensuring the law was accessible to those it served. While on the bench of the
B.C. Court of Appeal, he distinguished himself by his belief that se ntencing must be framed by
rationality, a broader social purpose and proportionality.

       “Justice McIntyre was a civil libertarian who, in the early days following the passage of
the Charter of Rights and Freedoms, set an enduring standard for the protection of freedom of
expression and equality rights. He will be remembered for both his lasting contributions to
criminal jurisprudence and for his commitment to balancing the rights of individuals with their
responsibilities to society.”

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Contact:       Dave Townsend
               Senior Public Affairs Officer
               Ministry of Attorney General
               250 387-4962
               250 889-5945 (cell)


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