Finance committee  In another forum, we have approached the question of an increase in budgetary resources for some projects that we wanted to undertake. The complexity of the cases we are dealing with is increasing, and we were looking for some additional resources to hire some staff.

Finance committee  I should explain how we operate. Because we have a large number of mandates and we are a relatively small tribunal, first of all, we never set aside a person or a researcher who does only one type of case. We can't predict how many of those kinds of cases we will have this year

Finance committee  That depends entirely on the type of case. Cases of dumping and countervailing duties are private matters. The government, therefore, does not intervene.

Finance committee  All interested parties may make representations.

Finance committee  Union representatives sometimes come forward and support one side or the other. It doesn't happen often, but in the case of consumer goods, retailers sometimes frequently intervene, because the action we take may have an impact on their activities.

Finance committee  They can request an investigation as industry representatives.

Finance committee  It could do so if it represented the industry. For example if it had the support of the producers on whose behalf it worked, the two could lodge a complaint together.

Finance committee  I can, but only the broad brush strokes, as the tribunal doesn't usually explain its decisions, aside from listing the grounds upon which a decision was made. The tribunal was seized with the case and conducted an investigation. It found there was hardship and recommended a numb

Finance committee  Not yet.

Finance committee  There again, it depends on the type of case. Safeguard cases are quite rare at the tribunal. I think that we have dealt with four or five since 1989. So the government takes whatever time it needs to respond. There is no set deadline.

Finance committee  No, it was the bicycle industry.

Finance committee  There is nothing to report.

Finance committee  First of all, the tribunal does not collect or charge fees for hearing a case. So the short answer to your question is that it's the government that picks up the tab for the costs of operating the tribunal.

Finance committee  The private parties will cover their own costs to come before the tribunal, yes. So both sides will be represented, just like in court, and we will adjudicate the case.

Finance committee  Yes, normally represented by the Department of Justice.