I'll do my best in a matter of minutes.
You would first have to read the text of the act that confers these powers on the CSE. First you would see that the Establishment gathers foreign intelligence. By definition, it cannot gather information on a Canadian, whether that person is in Canada or elsewhere in the world. When we talk about the CSE's activities, it must always be kept in mind that they are extremely limited with regard to objectives and that the number of interceptions related to Canadians is very limited. I'll take this opportunity to go on right away to address the question of complaints.
Since the Office of the Commissioner of the Communications Security Establishment was established, only two complaints have been brought to our attention, and neither has warranted a public hearing. Very little intelligence concerning Canadians is forwarded to the CSE. Furthermore, it is so well controlled, in my opinion, that it can give rise to very few complaints.
As for the government's computer structures, the government decided that certain facilities were more critical than others. It wants to ensure that its computer systems, particularly in the areas of defence and foreign affairs, is protected from any cyber attack. It is up to the CSE to find the technical means necessary to prevent those attacks. This is not a field where I will have to intervene a lot as Commissioner because such attacks will not very likely concern Canadians or Canadians' privacy. In my view, Mr. Adams, the CSE chief, could answer that question better than I.
As for the distinction between quasi-constitutional and constitutional rights, the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms grants every Canadian the right to security. That right is written in the Constitution. That is why I say it is constitutional in nature. The right to privacy, on the other hand, is established by the Privacy Act. The courts have held that this is a quasi-constitutional right. It therefore does not have the same capacity to bring about action, but from the moment it is at issue in a matter addressed by a court, this gives it virtually equivalent status. That's what I did when I was a judge, and that's what I will continue to do as Commissioner.