Prime minister Harper announces consultations on the Air India bombing investigation

Prime Minister Stephen Harper announced today that he has asked retired Supreme Court Justice John Major to meet with the families of the victims of Air India Flight 182. Mr. Major will consult with the families on what they believe would be the most expeditious process to address both their concerns and the outstanding questions.

Mr. Major and the Honourable Bob Rae have already discussed the outstanding questions he posed in his report Lessons to be Learned which was submitted last fall on the 1985 Air India bombing investigation.

Biographical notes follow.


* * * * * * * * * *


The Honourable Mr. Justice John C. Major
Biographical Notes

Mr. Justice Major, B.Com., LL.B. Born in Mattawa, Ontario, 1931. Son of William and Elsie Major. Married to Hélène Provencher, 1959. Children: Suzan, Peter, Paul and Steven. Educated at Loyola College (now Concordia University), Montréal, and University of Toronto. Hon. LL.D., Concordia University, 2003. Called to the Alberta Bar, 1958. Practised law with Bennett, Jones, Verchere at Calgary and became senior partner in 1967. Appointed Q.C., 1972. Elected Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers, 1980. Member of the Canadian Superior Courts Judges Association. Counsel for the Canadian Medical Protective Association (Alberta), 1971-91. Senior Counsel for the City of Calgary Police Service, 1975-85; Counsel at the McDonald Commission re RCMP, 1978-82; Counsel, Royal Commission into the collapse of the CCB and Northland Bank (Estey Commission); Senior Counsel for the Province of Alberta at the Code Inquiry into the collapse of the Principal Group of Companies, 1987. Appointed to the Alberta Court of Appeal, July 11, 1991. Appointed to the Supreme Court of Canada, November 13, 1992. Justice Major retired on December 25, 2005.

---

The Prime Minister’s Office - Communications