Madam Speaker, I made the decision last Thursday and communicated it to the panel last Friday.
It was a very considered decision, one that included consideration of the large numbers of wards and tribunals, not just with the federal government but with the provincial governments as well which might be affected by the precedent that would be set.
It was my judgment that the best way to allow the complainants to exercise the opportunity to lay a complaint in this case and to do it in a way that could be done in the future was to recognize the need for additional funds to deal with this particular case and to make those funds available to counsel. I was assured in the letter of request from the panel members that they believed the process could go ahead fairly and with dignity for the complainants.