National Defence committee  I don't think Mr. Dryden is here today. It is important to point out that I do three kinds of reports. There's the annual report that you have here and which obviously contains no classified information. You'll notice that the 55 reports you referred to aren't identified as such

National Defence committee  Is that all?

National Defence committee  First, I must say that I have been in my position for only four months now. So I still have a lot to learn, especially about what happened before I got here. As regards the matter of the take-over, for example, I must immediately tell you that I don't know the answer to that. A

National Defence committee  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 perso

National Defence committee  When I say my learning is beginning, that's because the field in which I am now involved is absolutely enormous. I visited CSE's offices and I saw how the interception of foreign communications worked. There are all kinds of information that I fundamentally had absolutely no idea

National Defence committee  Absolutely, yes.

National Defence committee  Yes.

National Defence committee  Are you asking me whether I agree that our budget should be cut?

National Defence committee  I'll have to get back to you on that point because I was expecting to be asked if I wanted our budget to be increased. On that matter, I believe—

National Defence committee  Currently, we're satisfied with the budget put at our disposal. Our team is able to properly do the work we have to do. With regard to cuts, if obligations are imposed on us, we will obviously have to act accordingly. Quite honestly, I wouldn't be able to answer that question to

National Defence committee  Unfortunately, that's a matter over which I have absolutely no control. You'll have to request permission from Mr. Adams, the chief of the Establishment.

National Defence committee  Not technically, at least at this stage.

National Defence committee  Thank you all the more for those remarks, Mr. LeBlanc, since 40 years ago, I occupied an office on the first floor while your father occupied a much larger office above, and that made a lot of people jealous.

National Defence committee  Good afternoon, Mr. Malo.

National Defence committee  It would be better to put that question to Mr. Adams. In my view, what you're telling me is a matter that is really the responsibility of CSE, and I am not in a position today to give you an answer on that point.