Minister MacAulay Announces Appointment to the Canada Agricultural Review Tribunal

OTTAWA, June 28, 2017 /CNW/ - Lawrence MacAulay, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food, announced today the appointment of Luc Bélanger as Chairperson of the Canada Agricultural Review Tribunal. The appointment is for a five-year term effective July 17, 2017.

This appointment is part of the rigorous new approach to Governor in Council appointments—an approach that uses open, transparent and merit-based selection processes that strive for gender parity and reflect Canada's diversity to support Ministers in making appointment recommendations for positions within their portfolio.

Quote

"I am pleased to announce the appointment of Luc Bélanger to the Canada Agricultural Review Tribunal. With vast experience working in the legal field and a strong interest in agriculture, I have no doubt Mr. Belanger will bring the highest standards of excellence and integrity to his work with the Tribunal." 
-  Lawrence MacAulay, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food

Quick facts

The Canada Agricultural Review Tribunal is an independent tribunal established by the Government of Canada to provide impartial reviews of notices of violation issued by federal agencies regulating agriculture and food.

Members of the Canada Agricultural Review Tribunal are appointed by the Government of Canada upon the recommendation of the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food.

Additional links

• Canada Agricultural Review Tribunal

Biographical Note

Luc Bélanger has extensive experience as a lawyer with the Department of Justice Canada. From 2005 to 2011, he led the Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada legal services team in litigation against tobacco manufacturers. During this time, Mr. Bélanger developed a strong interest in using new technologies for administering and managing a high volume of documentary evidence in both paper and electronic formats.

From 2009 to 2014, Mr. Bélanger was a member of Sedona Canada Working Group 7. He contributed actively to the 2015 publication of the second edition of the Sedona Canada Principles Addressing Electronic Discovery.

Between 2012 and 2014, Mr. Bélanger used his leadership and experience to create the National eDiscovery and Litigation Support Services in Justice Canada's Litigation Branch. During this time, he also created and co-chaired the eDiscovery Practice Group at Justice Canada. He also initiated the development and implementation of a National Litigation Readiness Standard.

From 2014 to 2017 Mr. Bélanger worked with Employment and Social Development Canada legal services. He argued before the Social Security Tribunal of Canada and participated in drafting legislation for the Canada Pension Plan enhancement that starts in 2019.

Mr. Bélanger holds a Licentiate in Civil Law from the University of Ottawa and is a member of the Barreau du Québec. He is married to Josée Drouin and has three children: Léonie, Augustin and Calixa.

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SOURCE Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada

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