Human Resources committee  I think Maître Beaulieu's example was just with respect to what happens when you make an offer of funds and what the conditions are that are attached. We all know that if we offer the keys to our son or daughter, they come with certain conditions: one, to fill the tank up with ga

Human Resources committee  But that has nothing to do with the federal and provincial governments, and we don't look at them as father-daughter, father-son, or any of that.

Human Resources committee  Let me just add that the federal spending power is normally an offer of funding to provinces. The provinces then make decisions whether they want to accept the funds or not, based on the offer and whatever the conditions are. That's the normal practice. As we mentioned, it's al

Human Resources committee  The courts have said, on the exercise of the federal spending power, that it is up to the provinces to accept the offer or not.

Human Resources committee  Well, no, there's an acceptance of the funds or not. It's an in or out situation, depending on how the program is designed. Other programs can be designed for having funding for other reasons.

Human Resources committee  I'm not talking about—

Human Resources committee  That seems to be the way the bill is designed.

Human Resources committee  I don't think we saw that kind of detail.

Human Resources committee  The legislation has the advisory committee mechanism. It also has a regulation-making authority, which could be used for a number of things. Advisory councils in general are quite common in the federal area. The department uses them fairly extensively, as do other departments.

Human Resources committee  Yes, a family and children's branch.

Human Resources committee  We have grey hair, but I don't think we were there.

Human Resources committee  We're not really at liberty to give you advice with respect to how the bill should be redrafted in those terms. As justice counsel, we're not permitted to deal with those types of areas. All I can say is that clarity in legislation is the best thing everyone could have.

Human Resources committee  When you're into the first nations area--in regulation, rules, and programs--it's a quite complicated area. I don't think Mr. Beaulieu or I are qualified to be able to give you an answer with respect to first nations. It's not my area of expertise, certainly.

Human Resources committee  I don't think either Mr. Beaulieu or I are expert enough in that area to even venture down that path.

Human Resources committee  Never let a lawyer speculate.