The Court Challenges Program is composed of two branches: the Official Language Rights branch and the Human Rights branch. The two branches share the common goal of providing financial support to test cases of national importance.
However, while the two branches share the Program’s broad objectives, each has different eligibility and jurisdictional criteria, and each branch also has its own Expert Panel that makes decisions independently. To learn more about their role, please visit the Expert Panels page.
What is a test case of national importance?
A test case of national importance is a legal case brought before the courts to assert and clarify, in a novel way, one or more of the rights covered by the CCP. Thus, the purpose of a test case is not just to benefit the parties in the case itself, but better inform all Canadians of the scope of the right(s) in question.
Official Language Rights Branch
The Official Language Rights Branch funds constitutional and quasi-constitutional challenges stemming from the alleged breach of specific rights protected by the Constitution and the Official Languages Act.
Human Rights Branch
The Human Rights Branch funds constitutional challenges stemming from the alleged breach of specific rights protected by the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms by the federal government.