Justice committee  If you look backwards, the funding may have been in mains or supps, simply depending on the time of cabinet approval and Parliamentary approval.

Justice committee  Yes.

Justice committee  That's a very interesting question and obviously one that is best answered in full by Treasury Board. I would say that in the cycle, with apologies for the confusion, over the course of three or four years or several years, something that is funded in supplementary estimates may then be reflected in the next set of mains.

Justice committee  I understand the—

Justice committee  Let me start and then others can pick up. It's obviously the way we've expressed it. As an example, we're here before you seeking approval for $630 million, and we're seeking approval in addition for net vote authority of $296 million. I have lawyers on salary today who have families and jobs and mortgages, whose ability to be paid through the next year depends on our capacity to cost recover from client departments who are themselves subject to reductions, shifts, operating budget freezes, and otherwise.

Justice committee  —whether departments will have the resources.... We're pretty sure many of them will have the need. The question is whether they will have the resources to pay at current levels or whether we have to start adjusting, looking forward. Concerning the provinces, the question is whether there's a shift that we will need to consider in our future planning.

Justice committee  No, I very much appreciate that—

Justice committee  I suppose it is possible. We will confirm whether or not any of the cases that we handle involve a requirement to seek voluntary information from service providers, and if so, whether any of that's paid for. But to my knowledge, in terms of the main estimates that are before the committee, I will confirm that and I will undertake to come back to the committee with confirmation.

Justice committee  In terms of the role of the Department of Justice, we are not in the investigation business, other than, for example, in terms of international assistance or mutual legal assistance where there are those kinds of activities. Our business is providing legal and policy support to the minister and legal advice to government departments.

Justice committee  I don't believe in these estimates that any new resources have specifically been identified. There are resources allocated to the victims fund. There are obviously staff resources that have been allocated to the development of the victims bill of rights that would be devoted to supporting its effective implementation, by training and communicating with those who will be implementing it, if and when the bill is passed.

Justice committee  I think it would be accurate. I guess the only nuance that could be added is that in terms of implementing new legislation, it can result in a new request or it can result in a request for a reallocation of existing resources, but in terms of asking for new money as the process unfolds—

Justice committee  I will lead off, and then others will join. The government is obviously committed to reinforcing and doing what it can within its jurisdiction for the importance of both official languages and the importance of the capacity of those who are involved in the justice system one way or another, whether as judges, as defendants who come before the courts, or obviously as crown attorneys, whether on the public prosecution side or on the civil justice side, to ensure that we're respecting official language rights.

Justice committee  Yes. I won't speak for the translators who work here. There are very few trained people who are able to translate in such formal, important and serious proceedings as criminal cases. There are sometimes not enough people to do the work.

Justice committee  Yes, exactly.

Justice committee  Mr. Chairman, to my knowledge, that would be zero from the Department of Justice, from these appropriations. I could come back and confirm it. I won't speak for any of the portfolio agencies or DPP, but from the Department of Justice, subject to confirmation....