I can't let you speak unless I give you part of my time. I am going to give you an opportunity to speak. Normally, as I have said at previous meetings of the committee, I would be sitting elsewhere to ask my question, but I'm going to do so here.
I would like to correct Mr. Lemieux, who said that the Conservative government had come here to meet us. If it was the government, there would at least be a minister. It's the parliamentary committee, which includes representatives from all the political parties, that is here and that has a mandate from Parliament. It is not the government that is here, but the four political parties represented in Canada's Parliament.
There was discussion of cuts. Mr. Lemieux said that millions were injected, but what is the impact? That is the question I want to ask. For example, Bill S-3 was enacted, after being introduced by Jean-Robert Gauthier, the former senator. He made three attempts before Canada's Parliament enacted it. The Liberals were no better back in the day.
If the Court Challenges Program is eliminated, how far of a backward step will this be? There may be a lot of money. Mr. Lemieux spoke of $15 million on administration and $11 million for the communities or for the people. That's all very well, but without this program, would we still have the Montfort Hospital in Ottawa? Would there be a francophone school in Prince Edward Island? Would there be a francophone school in British Columbia? That is the question that needs to be asked and that is what we ought to be telling our government.
I would like to give Mr. Bélanger an opportunity to speak, because he has wanted to say something for some time.