Mr. Chair, the method used in cases like this is quite usual. An agreement was reached between the plaintiffs, the class action people, and the federal and the provincial governments on creating a trust fund. That agreement was presented to the courts and was accepted by all parties. It was set up with either the courts direction or with the agreement that an individual third party professional organization would manage those funds. The fund was not given to them. They are the trustees. They act on behalf of the trust, investing the money.
There was also great expense, as was mentioned. They had to come out with the criteria on how individual claims would be evaluated, who would get what level of funding and how that would be done. That is quite normal. It is administered by a third party, by professionals in that area.
I know in the drunken enthusiasm of the member from Sackville, he mentioned it as giving money to lawyers. I think a more sober reflection by the member would indicate that it was done in a very professional manner, as it should be and would be, directed by the courts.