News Release
The Council, in collaboration with the Canadian Academy of Health Sciences, is pleased to announce the appointment of the Honourable Justice Stephen T. Goudge as Chair of the Expert Panel on the medical and physiological impacts of conducted energy weapons (CEWs). As a judge with the Court of Appeal of Ontario, Justice Goudge brings a wealth of expertise to the Council and to this assessment.
Justice Goudge was a Bencher of the Law Society of Upper Canada from 1991 to 1996. Until he was appointed to the bench, Justice Goudge practiced general litigation, including civil and commercial, administrative, labour and charter litigation with the firm of Gowlings. He has been active in the Ontario Bar Association and the Canadian Civil Liberties Association, and is currently a member of the Chief Justice’s Advisory Committee on Professional Responsibility, the Civil Rules Committee, and the Board of Governors of the Law Commission of Ontario. Read Justice Goudge’s full bio.
As Chair of the Expert Panel, Justice Goudge will work with a multidisciplinary group of experts to address the following question: What is the current state of scientific knowledge about the medical and physiological impacts of conducted energy weapons?
As public awareness of CEWs has grown, so too has the national dialogue surrounding their safe and appropriate use in maintaining public safety. In the context of this broader dialogue, this assessment will provide Canadians with a balanced report regarding the current state of knowledge relevant to the medical and physiological impacts of CEW use.
As this is a collaborative initiative between the Canadian Academy of Health Sciences and the Council of Canadian Academies, a joint Scientific Advisory Committee has been created to provide scientific advice on the project. The Committee will provide advice regarding the assessment question, as well as composition and potential membership for the panel.
For continued updates on the status of the assessment visit the CEW page.