If I could just comment there, I think that is exactly the problem. This committee is here to discuss official languages and the respect for official languages.
In answer to your question, Ms. Savoie, if you want to convince the government to protect linguistic minorities, you need simply tell it that it has to obey the law. Subsection 41(2) of the Official Languages Act requires the government, as a positive measure to establish a program like the Court Challenges Program in Canada. There is your answer.
If, from a legislative standpoint, a legal opinion says that the government does not need this particular program, the government will not be convinced. It is up to you, if you wish to make this happen. But restoring the Court Challenges Program in full—
I'll say it in English: it's like building an elephant gun to kill a mouse. It is going beyond the ambit of language laws, and if you look at the charter, very clearly, you will see that the sections on the official languages of Canada—sections 16 to 23—take up a very large part of our charter.
I would put to you that language laws have a special place within the Canadian fabric and constitution, and if your goal is to protect them, it is not by bringing back the program that Mr. Benson and I explained has a lot of problems, but to create something that addresses your specific needs. That is why I said....
And I really take exception to some of the comments made,
particularly by Ms. Folco and Mr. Nadeau. You did not listen to me. I didn't say that I was opposed to protecting linguistic minorities at all. I said that—