But Minister Baird, the ability of these very people to get their rights enforced is what has been put at risk here with the cutting of the court challenges program. To pit needs, like this of the most vulnerable—you're talking about seniors, single mothers—against each other is somewhat offensive. Of course we want the senior to be protected. Of course we want all parents and all kids to do well. But it's pretty fundamental to have access to legal rights, and for equality before the law to be not just a nice thought but to actually get equality, through equal enforcement of the law, for those without the wealth and resources to get their rights enforced—to actually get the resources to challenge inequality and discrimination.
It baffles the mind that we would want to cut a program to help people fight discrimination that has been, in a very practical way—whether we're talking about women's equality, language rights, seniors' rights, the rights of immigrants—so successful. It is perplexing.