Madam Speaker, I have listened to the solicitor general. Let me say no one has done more, unfortunately, to undermine the commission than the solicitor general himself with his comments on the possible outcome of the commission and then his failure to fund.
I want to ask the minister a very important question about the issue of funding. The Federal Court of Canada has said that the commission does not have the authority to extend funds to the student complainants. It was very clear on that. It quoted from section 45 of the RCMP Act.
The solicitor general has given money, $650,000. Does the commission in his view have the authority to use that $650,000 or the additional fund that he is talking about for legal aid for the student complainants at the APEC inquiry? Does it have the authority, according to his understanding as the solicitor general responsible for this act, to use those funds in that way? Yes or no.