I would begin by saying that, as you know, Mr. Chair, it's not my personal view or the view of any of those who report to me with respect to the legal analysis that may have been applied or that will be relevant to the question of moving forward to defend a piece of legislation that has been challenged. Certainly it is within the discretion of the minister and the Attorney General to make her decisions and instructions to counsel with respect to moving forward.
It is an important fundamental principle that a sovereign Parliament that has enacted a law is due its day in court. It is thus not unusual for the department and the Attorney General to be in a situation of defending those laws in court, and we do it to the best of our professional ability.