Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Good morning to all of you. We have heard testimony about this program from other witnesses on other occasions. The vast majority of them supported the program, although a few opposed it. There is something brewing on the political front and I need your expertise. I have my own idea as to what is going on, but I would like to hear your views.
The current federal government, the Conservative government, may consider reinstating the official languages component of the Court Challenges Program, but does not want to do the same to help others who use the program, such as persons with a disability, visible minorities, and so forth.
Ms. Buckley, Mrs. Aucoin, Mr. Doucet and Ms. Thomson, I would like you to talk to us about the dangers of only reinstating one component of the program and the need, if you see it as such, to reinstate, and perhaps even strengthen, the entire program. Perhaps we could begin with Mrs. Aucoin.