The Honourable Arif Virani, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada, today announced the following appointment under the judicial application process established in 2016. This process emphasizes transparency, merit, and the diversity of the Canadian population, and will continue to ensure the appointment of jurists who meet the highest standards of excellence and integrity.
Michael U. Ezri, General Counsel at the Department of Justice Canada in Toronto, is appointed a Judge of the Tax Court of Canada. Justice Ezri replaces Justice K. Lyons, who resigned effective June 30, 2023.
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"I wish Justice Ezri every success as he takes on his new role. I am confident he will serve Canadians well as a member of the Tax Court of Canada."
-The Hon. Arif Virani, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada
Biography
Justice Michael U. Ezri was born in Montreal. He received his BA Hons in philosophy and history from Carleton University and obtained his JD from Osgoode Hall Law School. He was called to the Bar of Ontario in 1998.
Justice Ezri speaks English and French. He worked as a GST Rulings Officer for the Canada Revenue Agency before joining the Department of Justice Canada as a tax litigator in 1999 becoming General Counsel in 2019. He has argued significant and high-profile tax cases before the Tax Court of Canada, the Federal Court, and the Federal Court of Appeal. He is recognized within the Department of Justice Canada and in the tax bar as a leader in the area of GST/HST law. He has testified before the Senate's Standing Committee on Legal and Constitutional Affairs.
Justice Ezri has lectured in tax law at Toronto Metropolitan University's Lincoln Alexander School of law and has coached their tax mooting team for the Bowman moot. He has served for many years as an articling principal and as a tax tutor for the Law Society of Ontario's tutoring program. He has regularly presented at the CPA's Commodity Tax Symposium.
Justice Ezri and his spouse Julie have one teenage daughter. They enjoy travelling and spending time with family and friends.
