Mr. Chair, I've heard some people say that they're afraid that this will complicate the process and that it will delay or complicate access to the program.
We recognize Quebec as a nation, and we recognize that Quebec has legal traditions that are distinct from those of Canada. We aren't just talking about a regional distinction, we're talking about the recognition of a distinct nation, with distinct legal traditions, values that are unique to it, and a number of areas of jurisdiction that fall exclusively under the jurisdiction of the National Assembly of Quebec.
We're not putting obstacles in the way of the program. We've said many times that we think the Court Challenges Program is a good program, if it's administered properly and if it's intended for the right clientele. So we don't want to prevent people from accessing the program, quite the contrary. We don't want to prevent people from having access to the courts and all the means by which they can challenge laws that they feel are discriminatory.
However, we think it's relevant, in the case of Quebec, to establish guidelines during negotiations. We don't impose them, we're not banging our fists on the table, but we want the Minister of Canadian Heritage and the Government of Quebec to negotiate these guidelines, particularly to recognize that the federal government won't go in a certain direction in a given situation if it falls under Quebec's jurisdiction.
Once the negotiations have been completed and concluded, there's no reason why this would delay the administration of the program and impede access to the program for anyone in Quebec and Canada. It's simply a matter of being consistent with the fact that the House of Commons has recognized, on more than one occasion, that Quebec forms a nation, with different values and different legal traditions. In our opinion, adding a framework agreement to such a program, which has an impact on Quebec's jurisdictions, values and legal distinctions, is not at all exaggerated or far‑fetched.
I'll leave it there, Mr. Chair.