Official Languages committee  Some cases are still pending and have not yet come before the courts. Parties are in the process of deciding whether they want to take it further. In those cases, confidentiality must be maintained. However, we will determine what names we can give you.

Official Languages committee  Thank you. I would reiterate our recommendation that the Court Challenges Program and its budget, as it was before September 26, 2006, be restored in its entirety. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Official Languages committee  I will certainly comment on the issue of legal aid. We need to remember that, when cases are assessed, one of the criteria is that the funding is not used to further individual cases, cases that affect only one person. Test cases that affect groups of people are funded. The point

Official Languages committee  The administrative costs are negotiated with Canadian Heritage during discussions over what proportion of the budget is assigned to respective areas.

Official Languages committee  Yes, sir, but you must understand that we follow the rules set out in the Contribution Agreement. Under this agreement, there are many, many rules and provisions to ensure that public monies are spent transparently and in compliance with the requirements. I must say these choices

Official Languages committee  It reads as follows: The budgeted amount approved by the minister... in each fiscal year shall not exceed $1,880,000... for litigation, an amount not to exceed, in each fiscal year, $1,600,000 plus the carry-over amount.

Official Languages committee  Thank you, Mr. Nadeau. I think it is fair to say that since 1982, when the first education case was brought before the Ontario Court of Appeal under section 23, there have been other cases, including the Mahé case. Had the Court Challenges Program not existed, today we would sti

Official Languages committee  Do I have any time left, Mr. Chairman?

Official Languages committee  I believe that the words Mr. Godin has spoken and the way he expressed himself reflect the opinions of a vast number of Canadians about the Court Challenges Program. We are extremely concerned by the elimination of this program, which has reduced the right to equality of francop

Official Languages committee  The funding for language cause represents $525,000.

Official Languages committee  Certainly. In the first place, the Court Challenges Program was not created in order to provide funds to all and sundry. As you said yourself, one of the criteria does state that: prior to approving the case for funding, the panel should be satisfied that the applicant or the i

Official Languages committee  I will answer this question with the help of my colleagues. I should say the following. NGOs receiving funding from the Government of Canada via the Department of Canadian Heritage through contribution agreements have very well-defined agreements. They serve two purposes. The fir

Official Languages committee  No. To our knowledge, no project has been submitted which would fit Canadian Heritage criteria as they currently exist. The criteria of the federal government and the Department of Canadian Heritage to grant, say, $500,000, $1 million or $2.8 million to the Fédération des communa

Official Languages committee  First of all, we need to keep in mind that the Contribution Agreement is signed with the federal government. So it is the government that establishes the criteria. We are responsible for implementing the Contribution Agreement after it is signed.

Official Languages committee  Yes, it is the brick you have in front of you.