Court Challenges Program: Senator Maria Chaput calls the attention of the Senate

Ottawa, December 11, 2015 – Manitoban Senator Maria Chaput launched an inquiry on Thursday, December 10, to call the attention of the Senate to the vital role that legal challenges play in Canada’s constitutional system.

Senator Chaput outlined the troubled history of the elimination of the Court Challenges Program (CCP) in 2006 and the subsequent creation of the Language Rights Support Program (LRSP).

Encouraged by the federal government’s stated intention to re-establish the CCP, Senator Chaput emphasized the principles of the rule of law and access to justice, as well as the importance of taking action to ensure that the Constitution and the Charter are respected, thereby ensuring our society is fairer and more just.

The Senator concluded by saying that the government could show its maturity by recognizing that it is not perfect, and by providing society with the means to challenge its imperfections in the courts.

Website: www.mariachaput.ca
Twitter: @SenChaput
Liberal Senate Forum: http://liberalsenateforum.ca

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To obtain an interview with Senator Chaput, please contact:
Suzanne Belliveau at 613-943-2435 or by email at [email protected]