My experience has primarily been in relation to 7 and 15. Our position is that there has to be enhanced flexibility but that we really need to keep in mind the focused mandate that the program had on issues of disadvantage because, as soon as it gets too broad, then I think the concerns that have been expressed in previous discussions about how you manage it when you're getting too many applications, how you really select....
I think it is important for this committee to direct that the program should remain with its focus on the issues of the most seriously disadvantaged, and those tend to come up under 7 and 15, but to the extent that they may arise in other sections, it may be possible to be somewhat flexible.
As I emphasized in my presentation, it's on the issue of positive obligations to address socio-economic deprivation where the Canadian courts, as Bonnie Morton mentioned, are so out of step. In those instances it can be so critical to have access to international mechanisms because they act as a corrective. The strategic goals of the court challenges program could be significantly enhanced by allowing them to fund access to international mechanisms in appropriate cases, but I see it as relatively rare. I don't see it as a massive expansion of the mandate.