When the charter was first enacted in 1982 and in 1985, when the equality guarantees came into effect, it was the Minister of Justice at the time, Mr. Crosbie, who said that it is much better to get the laws right in the first place so that people don't have to litigate them; but if we have to litigate them, then it is imperative that the people who do not have the means to litigate these incredibly important cases will be given assistance.
That message is as good now as it was then. The court challenges program was cancelled and restored once before. It should be restored once again, because it is essential to the nation.