Roy McMurtry, a significant figure in law and politics in Ontario, has passed away. OntarioRoy McMurtry, a well-known figure in Ontario, has passed away at the age of 91.
McMurtry, who worked as a lawyer for many years, became the attorney general of Ontario in 1975 under the leadership of Progressive Conservative premier Bill Davis.
He served in that position for ten years, and later returned to the judiciary, eventually becoming Chief Justice of Ontario.
The Attorney General of Ontario, Doug Downey, stated that McMurtry led several reforms in the justice system, including introducing bilingualism in the courts and reforming family law.
The Court of Appeal of Ontario highlighted McMurtry's crucial role in negotiating the Charter of Rights and Freedoms and bringing Canada’s constitution under Canadian control.
McMurtry was one of the judges at the Appeal Court who upheld a lower court decision that deemed the traditional definition of marriage as unconstitutional, which paved the way for the legalization of same-sex marriage.
