Alfred Monnin
Encyclopedia
Alfred Maurice Monnin, OC
, OM
, QC
(born 1920) is a retired judge in Manitoba
, Canada
.
He was appointed to the Manitoba Court of Queen's Bench
in 1957 and to the Manitoba Court of Appeal
in 1962. In 1983 he was appointed Chief Justice of Manitoba. He retired from the Bench in 1990.
Born in Winnipeg, Manitoba, he received a Bachelor of Arts
in 1939 from Collège universitaire de Saint-Boniface
. After serving in World War II
, he received a Bachelor of Law in 1946.
In 1998, he oversaw a commission of inquiry into a vote-splitting scandal in the 1995 provincial election
. He had previously served as Chief Justice of Manitoba.
The Monnin Inquiry was called after accusations that local organizers from the Progressive Conservative Party
organized and funded candidates of another party, Independent Native Voice
, to split the left-of-centre vote with the New Democratic Party
in three constituencies. Monnin found that the PC organizers were guilty of inducing at least one INV candidate, Darryl Sutherland, to enter the campaign. Senior PC organizer Taras Sokolyk
was personally implicated in the scandal.
Monnin described the actions of the Conservative organizers as an "unconscionable debasement of a citizen's right to vote" and claimed "in all my years on the Bench I have never encountered as many liars in one proceeding as I did during this inquiry."http://www.michenerawards.ca/english/winaward1999.htm
He has received an honorary Doctor of Laws, University of Winnipeg
(May 28, 1972), Doctor of the University, honoris causa, University of Ottawa
(October 1972), Doctor of the University, honoris causa, Université Laval (June 1, 1974) and an Honorary Doctor of Laws, University of Manitoba (1979).
In 1990, he was awarded the Order of Canada
for having "distinguished himself on the bench for more than 30 years, during which he contributed greatly to the province's legal system."
In 2000, he was awarded the Order of Manitoba
. He has also been appointed a member of L’Ordre des francophones d’Amérique (1979), and an Officer of the French Legion of Honour.
His eldest son, Michel
, currently serves on the Manitoba Court of Appeal and his fourth son, Marc, is currently the Chief Justice of the Manitoba Court of Queen's Bench. His daughter-in-law, Laurie Allen
, currently serves on the bench in Manitoba and another daughter-in-law, Donna Miller Q.C., is currently an Associate Deputy Minister of Justice (Canada).
Order of Canada
The Order of Canada is a Canadian national order, admission into which is, within the system of orders, decorations, and medals of Canada, the second highest honour for merit...
, OM
Order of Manitoba
The Order of Manitoba is a civilian honour for merit in the Canadian province of Manitoba. Instituted in 1999 when Lieutenant Governor Peter M...
, QC
Queen's Counsel
Queen's Counsel , known as King's Counsel during the reign of a male sovereign, are lawyers appointed by letters patent to be one of Her [or His] Majesty's Counsel learned in the law...
(born 1920) is a retired judge in Manitoba
Manitoba
Manitoba is a Canadian prairie province with an area of . The province has over 110,000 lakes and has a largely continental climate because of its flat topography. Agriculture, mostly concentrated in the fertile southern and western parts of the province, is vital to the province's economy; other...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
.
He was appointed to the Manitoba Court of Queen's Bench
Court of Queen's Bench of Manitoba
The Court of Queen's Bench of Manitoba is the superior court of the Canadian province of Manitoba...
in 1957 and to the Manitoba Court of Appeal
Manitoba Court of Appeal
The Manitoba Court of Appeal is the highest Court of Appeal in the Canadian province of Manitoba. It was established in 1906. It is located in the Old Law Courts building at 408 York Avenue in Winnipeg, the capital city of Manitoba...
in 1962. In 1983 he was appointed Chief Justice of Manitoba. He retired from the Bench in 1990.
Born in Winnipeg, Manitoba, he received a Bachelor of Arts
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
in 1939 from Collège universitaire de Saint-Boniface
Collège universitaire de Saint-Boniface
The Université de Saint-Boniface, or USB, is a university college affiliated with the University of Manitoba and located in the Saint Boniface district of Winnipeg, Manitoba , Canada....
. After serving in World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, he received a Bachelor of Law in 1946.
In 1998, he oversaw a commission of inquiry into a vote-splitting scandal in the 1995 provincial election
Manitoba general election, 1995
The Manitoba general election of April 25,1995 was held to elect Members of the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Manitoba, Canada. It was won by the Progressive Conservative Party, which won 31 seats out of 57...
. He had previously served as Chief Justice of Manitoba.
The Monnin Inquiry was called after accusations that local organizers from the Progressive Conservative Party
Progressive Conservative Party of Manitoba
The Progressive Conservative Party of Manitoba is the only right wing political party in Manitoba, Canada. It is also the official opposition party in the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba.-Origins and early years:...
organized and funded candidates of another party, Independent Native Voice
Independent Native Voice
Independent Native Voice, also known as Native Voice, was a short-lived political party in Manitoba, Canada. It was created in 1995 to address aboriginal issues, and ran three candidates in the 1995 provincial election. Native Voice was not registered with Elections Manitoba, and its candidates...
, to split the left-of-centre vote with the New Democratic Party
New Democratic Party of Manitoba
The New Democratic Party of Manitoba is a social-democratic political party in Manitoba, Canada. It is the provincial wing of the federal New Democratic Party, and is a successor to the Manitoba Co-operative Commonwealth Federation...
in three constituencies. Monnin found that the PC organizers were guilty of inducing at least one INV candidate, Darryl Sutherland, to enter the campaign. Senior PC organizer Taras Sokolyk
Taras Sokolyk
Taras Sokolyk is a former political organizer and currently the Chief Executive Officer of CanadInns in Winnipeg, Manitoba. He played a prominent role in the Progressive Conservative Party of Manitoba's 1995 election campaign, in which the party won a majority government.Once a political organizer...
was personally implicated in the scandal.
Monnin described the actions of the Conservative organizers as an "unconscionable debasement of a citizen's right to vote" and claimed "in all my years on the Bench I have never encountered as many liars in one proceeding as I did during this inquiry."http://www.michenerawards.ca/english/winaward1999.htm
He has received an honorary Doctor of Laws, University of Winnipeg
University of Winnipeg
The University of Winnipeg is a public university in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada that offers undergraduate faculties of art, business and economics, education, science and theology as well as graduate programs. The U of W's founding colleges were Manitoba College and Wesley College, which merged...
(May 28, 1972), Doctor of the University, honoris causa, University of Ottawa
University of Ottawa
The University of Ottawa is a bilingual, research-intensive, non-denominational, international university in Ottawa, Ontario. It is one of the oldest universities in Canada. It was originally established as the College of Bytown in 1848 by the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate...
(October 1972), Doctor of the University, honoris causa, Université Laval (June 1, 1974) and an Honorary Doctor of Laws, University of Manitoba (1979).
In 1990, he was awarded the Order of Canada
Order of Canada
The Order of Canada is a Canadian national order, admission into which is, within the system of orders, decorations, and medals of Canada, the second highest honour for merit...
for having "distinguished himself on the bench for more than 30 years, during which he contributed greatly to the province's legal system."
In 2000, he was awarded the Order of Manitoba
Order of Manitoba
The Order of Manitoba is a civilian honour for merit in the Canadian province of Manitoba. Instituted in 1999 when Lieutenant Governor Peter M...
. He has also been appointed a member of L’Ordre des francophones d’Amérique (1979), and an Officer of the French Legion of Honour.
His eldest son, Michel
Michel Monnin
Michel A. Monnin was appointed a judge of the Manitoba Court of Appeal on July 27, 1995. His appointment became effective on August 3, 1995. He replaced Mr. Justice Alan R. Philp, who chose to become a supernumerary judge....
, currently serves on the Manitoba Court of Appeal and his fourth son, Marc, is currently the Chief Justice of the Manitoba Court of Queen's Bench. His daughter-in-law, Laurie Allen
Laurie Allen
Laurie Patricia Allen, Q.C. was appointed a judge of the Family Division of the Manitoba Court of Queen's Bench on October 7, 1998. She replaced Mr. Justice John A. Menzies who was appointed to the court's General Division....
, currently serves on the bench in Manitoba and another daughter-in-law, Donna Miller Q.C., is currently an Associate Deputy Minister of Justice (Canada).