Ms. Carole Creighton

Carol Creighton provides a comprehensive account of her groundbreaking career in constitutional law in Ontario from the 1960s to early 2000s. After graduating from Western Law School in 1962 as the sole surviving woman in her class, she joined the McRuer Civil Rights Commission in 1966, working directly with Chief Justice McRuer on the landmark civil rights reports that fundamentally restructured Ontario’s legal system. Her detailed account reveals the painstaking process of producing these influential reports in the pre-word processing era.

In 1974, Creighton joined the Ministry of the Attorney General’s constitutional division under David Mundell, becoming one of only three lawyers specializing in constitutional law. She describes fascinating cases including the famous OPSEU case that nearly became the Supreme Court’s first Charter decision, and various Business Practices Act prosecutions involving deceptive muffler shops and dance studios. Her work extended to Aboriginal law, administrative law reform, and training rent review tribunals throughout Ontario.

Creighton provides unique insights into the evolution of the Attorney General’s Ministry, describing the informal early years when constitutional work was scattered across departments, and the gradual consolidation under Deputy Frank Callaghan. She offers candid assessments of various Attorneys General from Roy McMurtry through Jim Flaherty, noting particular challenges during Ian Scott’s tenure when political staff created communication barriers. Her account illuminates the practical challenges of constitutional law practice, inter-ministerial tensions, and the significant role women played despite being vastly outnumbered in the legal profession.

This description was written by AI and may contain some inaccuracies.