Just sent out this news release:
(September 25, 2006)The National Citizens Coalition today praised the federal government for scrapping the Court Challenges Program.
“This is a good move for taxpayers and for democracy,” says NCC vice president Gerry Nicholls. “The CCP was nothing but a subsidy program for left-wing special interest groups.”
Nicholls says if anyone wants to launch a constitutional court challenge they should do so with funds raised voluntarily not with tax dollars.
“Taxpayers should not be forced to finance a court challenge they may not support,” says Nicholls.
The NCC vice president points out that his group has launched several court challenges over the years and has never received one cent in public subsidies to help pay for them.
“If you are launching a court challenge that has public support you can raise money,” says Nicholls. “Taxpayers shouldn’t have to help pay the bill.”
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3 comments:
I disagree here. I don't believe rights are only for those with money. What about oppressed minority groups and the poor who may have their rights trampled on, but don't have the money to defend them. I support the majority of spending cuts made, but not this one. This is not about left wing groups fighting for more government money since the Charter doesn't protect that. It is about minority groups fighting for their rights as some gay couples did in the gay marriage case.
Miles, why do you insist that the government must fund such challenges.
If there are organizations out there that believe in the cause, they can raise their own funds for it.
Look south of the border. The ACLU, who I rarely if ever agree with, funds plenty of challenges to laws under the Bill of Rights. They manage to raise the money themselves, without handouts from the government.
If there are organizations out there that believe in the cause, they can raise their own funds for it.
Minority rights should always be protected no matter how popular or unpopular. If they are unpopular they cannot raise funds even if their rights are being violated. I believe all Canadians not just the wealthy should have their rights protected.
Look south of the border. The ACLU, who I rarely if ever agree with, funds plenty of challenges to laws under the Bill of Rights. They manage to raise the money themselves, without handouts from the government.
I myself am glad there are groups like the ACLU. It is too bad we don't have a Canadian equivalent. Even if one did exist a Court Challenge program should still be there for those who fall through the cracks.
I am all for spending cuts to special interest lobby groups, but I am against the idea of cutting off funding to minority rights. As a National Post editorial said, which I think is the Conservative motive, this was about rewarding those who voted Conservative and punishing those who won't vote Conservative.
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