If you wanted to show an oblivious outsider everything that was wrong with the culture of the Supreme Court of Canada, you could start with Monday’s session-opening ceremony that marked its 150th year of existence. It was essentially one long speaking panel about the importance of tradition and democracy by people who take great joy in discarding the former and overruling the latter.

The greatest casualty was the justices’ ceremonial white-trimmed scarlet robes, which have been used on special occasions since the court’s founding in 1875. Though they were iconic, made with Canadian mink, and so representative of the nation that they literally matched the flag, they were axed because they didn’t “reflect” the country to Chief Justice Richard Wagner’s liking.

“Many of you will have notic

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