Guided by his deep conviction that law must serve the betterment of all Canadians, Professor Pelletier has made it his mission to critically reflect on important issues facing courts, governments and legislators. He first joined the Civil Law Section at the University of Ottawa’s Faculty of Law in 1990. Quickly establishing himself as a leading voice in constitutional law scholarship, in 1996 he published the first treatise in Canada on the constitutional amendment procedure resulting from the patriation of the Constitution. This was the first of several foundational contributions from Professor Pelletier, which include widely read works that have been published in French, English, Spanish and German, and that have been cited both in Canada and abroad.
In 1998, Professor Pelletier chose to interrupt his academic career to pursue a life in politics. Representing the riding of Chapleau in the National Assembly of Quebec, he served as a minister in the Quebec government for almost six years before returning to academia in 2008.
This uncommon career path afforded Professor Pelletier a unique combination of knowledge and experience, enabling him to highlight areas of inquiry in constitutional law that would otherwise have gone unnoticed. Through his scholarship, he has committed to making complex issues understandable, not only to members of the legal profession but, crucially, to the general public. He has become a regular source of insight for national media outlets on topics ranging from the powers of the Supreme Court to the evolution of the rights of Indigenous Peoples. Through his efforts to mobilize knowledge, Professor Pelletier contributes to the construction and reassessment of Canadian identity, highlighting elements of our collective past that deserve to be better known or current realities that are not well understood.
This gift for making even the most difficult concepts simple and understandable has also allowed Professor Pelletier to excel in his role as a teacher. His reputation for being available as a caring mentor outside of the classroom, not to mention his multiple teaching awards and nominations, are exemplary of his broad commitment to ensuring that his students are equipped not only to become competent professionals but also to be better citizens.
The title of Distinguished University Professor is awarded to senior scholars of the University of Ottawa in recognition of exceptional scholarly achievement, pre-eminence in a particular field of knowledge and a solid teaching record. Appointment to the rank of Distinguished Professor of the University is limited to a maximum of 25 permanent regular faculty members. Professor Pelletier is the first faculty member from the Civil Law Section to receive this prestigious honour.
The Civil Law Section congratulates Benoît Pelletier on this exceptional distinction!