But in order for us to address access to the justice system and in order to help us to help our regional affiliates and our front line workers, we need funding, we need human resources capacity. We need these dollars in order to have the expertise to do our job and do it right.
Now I'd like to turn my attention to the Daniels case and the court challenges program. We have been at the forefront of this issue, which matters to most off-reserve indigenous issues, for many years, too often in courts stating our case.
IPAC knows all too well all about navigating the costly and complicated court system. In 1999 CAP entered into the 17-year battle, Daniels v. Canada. The government continues to try to have the case thrown out of the court. For that reason, the court ordered costs, and IPAC was able to proceed with the case.
The Daniels case is about fairness and equity. We believe that the government should not have the authority to arbitrarily choose who is indigenous and who is not. In short, the Daniels case is about obtaining a declaration stating that the Métis and non-status Indians be recognized as Indians under subsection 91(24) of the Constitution Acts, 1867 to 1982, and as such are owed a fiduciary duty and have a right to be consulted and negotiated with.
After 17 years of waiting, we finally will get a verdict today. We hope that the Supreme Court will rule in CAP's favour to protect our rights as indigenous peoples.
The Daniels case provides evidence of the value of the reinstatement of the court challenges program. It is clear that the Métis and non-status Indians have suffered the indignity of discrimination for far too long. It is integral that the court challenges program in its reinstated form remain open, fair, and just. It must operate beyond the letter of the law and more in the spirit of the law.
It should be clear now how important the court challenges program is and how important it is that it operate with distance from the Department of Justice, so that the program is impartial in both theory and in practice. It is critical that indigenous peoples be able to challenge the government when they feel that their constitutional rights have been infringed upon. Financial restraint should not be used as a barrier to justice.
There is a value to supporting access to justice. It will clearly impact the future of Canada's democracy and indigenous peoples.
On that note, my friends, we look forward to answering your questions.