Public Safety committee  Yes.

Public Safety committee  I understand the issue, which is why it's important that there be detailed guidelines, almost a matrix, for the RCMP to follow depending on the level and seriousness of the incident. If I could give you an example, and this relates to judicial matters, in Ontario, where we had a tragic death involving a former attorney general, the province went outside of Ontario to appoint a crown attorney for that case.

Public Safety committee  Yes, I'm familiar with the case.

Public Safety committee  Thank you.

Public Safety committee  Clearly, if the mandate were broadened, additional personnel would be required. Again it goes back to the issue of what degree of expansion or broadening of the mandate might be legislated and what operational requirements there would be.

Public Safety committee  A broadening of the mandate to include CSIS would be very much a broadening, indeed. I'm not certain that the mandate would be expanded or broadened to that extent.

Public Safety committee  Yes, those amounts are sufficient to carry out the present mandate. I believe the commission could be more effective with the same amount of funding were some of the recommendations that I've outlined put into place, such as the ability to control the complaints process to a greater degree, which would enable the commission to weed out more frivolous complaints.

Public Safety committee  Yes. They have been taken into account.

Public Safety committee  Yes, and I outlined very specifically how I think the mandate of the commission could be broadened to provide more effective oversight, at not substantial increased cost, without interfering with the appropriate internal discipline mechanisms of the RCMP.

Public Safety committee  I would agree, as I said in my opening remarks, that there should be checks and balances with respect to any agency that has strong intrusive powers. Whether it is this commission, which I personally believe would be well equipped to take on such a role, or another body that does so is less relevant than having the job done.

Public Safety committee  As I said, I'm a strong believer that all of us as individuals or as institutions must have checks and balances, must have appropriate oversight, and must be accountable.

Public Safety committee  That's a matter for Parliament to decide. In terms of the structure, as I said, getting the job done is more important than which organization actually takes on the responsibility.

Public Safety committee  I assume, Mr. Chair, to respond to the honourable member's question, that the question is whether a further $8 million would be suitable. Before I deal with that specific question, I would like to, if I might, correct one error that may have crept into the question, which was in the statement that funding for the commission was reduced from $8 million to $5 million.

Public Safety committee  In terms of the commission's budget, Mr. Chair, first of all, the commission has been acting on a budget of approximately $5 million, with $3 million of interim funding, for a total of $8 million. This has been adequate to date to conduct its operations, although, frankly, only with great care in spending.

Public Safety committee  All I know, Mr. Chair, is that the matter is under active consideration. We've made, both on the staff level and me, personally, some recommendations. So I know the matter is on the front burner at this time. But in terms of a specific timeframe, I'm unable to enlighten the committee.