The Registrar

Chantal Carbonneau

Ms. Carbonneau received her law degree from the Université de Sherbrooke. Member of the Quebec Bar since 1989, she is also a member of the Canadian Bar Association. She has since practiced law in Quebec and Ontario.

Before joining the Supreme Court of Canada, Ms. Carbonneau was Deputy Chief Administrator, Judicial and Registry Services at Courts Administration Service. In that capacity, she was responsible for the strategic direction, management and control of the delivery of judicial programs and services; the exercise of certain quasi-judicial authorities; and the provision of judicial support services for the Federal Court of Appeal, the Federal Court, the Court Martial Appeal Court of Canada and the Tax Court of Canada. Prior to her appointment to this position, Ms. Carbonneau was the Executive Director and General Counsel for the Federal Court of Appeal and the Court Martial Appeal Court of Canada.

Ms. Carbonneau was also Acting General Counsel at the Copyright Board of Canada, and Director, Legal Affairs and Intellectual Property at the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. Prior to her position with the CBC, Ms. Carbonneau worked in private practice, in Collective Societies and Legal Aid.

Throughout her career, she has argued cases in both official languages in all Quebec Courts, as well as the Federal Court of Appeal and the Federal Court.

Since December 17, 2021, she is the Registrar of the Supreme Court of Canada.

The Office of the Registrar of the Supreme Court of Canada provides all necessary services and support for the Supreme Court of Canada to process, hear and decide cases, as well as serving as the interface between litigants and the Court.

The Registrar :

  • under the direction of the Chief Justice, heads the overall administration of the Office of the Registrar and manages its employees, resources and activities;
  • exercises quasi-judicial powers in accordance with the Supreme Court Act and Rules;
  • administers the Judges Act in regard to its application to the Judges of the SCC; and
  • participates in selected outreach activities on behalf of the SCC, including SCC delegations in regard to the activities and meetings of various international associations of supreme courts from numerous countries.

In her capacity as Registrar, she is also a member of the Heads of Court Administration (HoCA), a national committee which brings together the lead government officials responsible for court services in all Canadian jurisdictions.