The Two Passions of Pierre Elliott Trudeau: Language and Rights--The Court Challenges Program, 1978-1994

The Court Challenges Program (CCP) was a federally-sponsored initiative which provided funding to linguistic and equity-seeking groups in order that they could clarify their constitutional rights through the courts. It was established by the Liberal government of Pierre Elliott Trudeau in 1978, cancelled by the Progressive Conservative Government of Kim Campbell in 1992, and is currently (summer 1994) being reinstated by the Liberal Government of Jean Chretien. During its fourteen year history, the CCP supported many cases of major legal and constitutional significance. Moreover, it was intimately connected to many of the issues that have fueled contemporary Canadian politics, including national unity, the Quebec question, and language, gender and multicultural rights. It also has implications for the debates which surround the matters of executive dominance in the Canadian political system, the increased role of interest groups in the formation of public policy, and the use of law in the development of public policy. This thesis maps out the CCP's connection to these political issues. It outlines why these issues are of contemporary importance in Canada, and it illustrates the Court Challenges Program's relationship to each one of them