November 15, 2006

Prime Minister Stephen Harper
Langevin Building
80 Wellington Street
Ottawa ON K1A 0A2

Dear Prime Minister:

The new Conservative government's plan to cut funding for the Court Challenges Program is contributing to the marginalization of Canada's minorities, particularly French-speaking and Acadian communities.

The Court Challenges Program works to help people fund court cases challenging laws that may violate equality rights, including official language rights protected under the Charter and the Constitution. The Program has been instrumental in helping guarantee the construction of Francophone schools in Prince Edward Island, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Newfoundland, and Nova Scotia. The Program has also aided in the establishment of French school boards across the country. In 2004-2005, the Program facilitated 56 equality rights applications and 26 language-related cases that would have otherwise went unheard.

Guy Joubert, second Vice President of the Canadian Bar Association, speaking on the Court Challenges Program said, “The Program doesn't target particular groups, it doesn't tailor to the needs of particular groups, it assists a broad section of Canadians in different circumstances.”

As you are aware, over 2.4 million French-speaking Canadians live outside of Quebec. These communities offer a varying degree of services and activities in French where Francophones and Acadians reside. However, availability of funding in these areas for language initiatives is often insufficient. The Court Challenges Program helps ensure French-speaking and Acadian communities, when necessary, have a legal option to guarantee their needs are being addressed.     

The Court Challenges Program is critical for helping the Government of Canada meet its obligations to ensure linguistic duality. The Program assists Canadians in holding their government accountable. I urge you to reinstate the $5.6 million for the Court Challenges Program.

Sincerely, 

Percy E. Downe
Senator