QUESTION PERIOD — Ministry of Justice
Quebec--Bill 21
November 19, 2025
Minister, in a response to an Order Paper question in the other place, we learned that, as of November 7, 2025, your government had spent nearly $2 million challenging Bill 21 before the Supreme Court. We’re talking about $2 million of public funds being spent to challenge a law that was passed democratically by the Quebec National Assembly.
Minister, I have personally reviewed the factum, which includes 24 pages of arguments. Many pages cite well-known principles. The amount spent comes down to $83,000 per page, $2,200 per line and $181 per word. Minister, after examining the government’s factum and looking at the legal fees incurred, it seems clear to me that your government will spare no expense in challenging this Quebec law. Do you intend to challenge these fees in court?
Senator, with enormous respect, the importance of ideas cannot be measured in the number of words that appear in the pages of a factum.
We’re talking about issues that are extremely important to protect the national interest, Canadians’ rights and the Constitution. This amount includes expenses incurred for employees at my department. If we have an opportunity to defend the Charter and the Constitution, the federal government does not only have the option, but the obligation, to intervene. No reasonable person would think that the government should stay out of this very important conversation.
