Mr. Chair, while waiting for the translation to be checked and confirmed, I'd like to speak briefly about the CRTC's handling of confidential documents and information.
This is something that already happens. The CRTC often receives requests from companies to keep information confidential. This happens frequently, and the CRTC often takes this into account for companies. Today's algorithms are probably what accounting records looked like at a certain period. I might be talking through my hat, but I would imagine that there have always been trade secrets and confidentiality to protect; it's the technology and business practices that have been changing.
I believe that government and regulatory organizations have always taken this into account for companies. I personally don't find it worrisome at all that the CRTC might, one day or another, need to request access to this type of information with due regard to any future corporate requests for the confidentiality of some information they consider more sensitive. However, this doesn't mean that it will be done systematically.
The CRTC already has that in its arsenal, and it is part of its normal working procedures. It seems to me that we are depriving ourselves once again of an extremely useful mechanism that would ensure we can monitor the implementation of the regulations we are putting in place on the basis of a fear that is not really well-founded. I have no doubt that the CRTC is fully capable of handling confidentiality cases when undertakings request it.
I wanted to comment on this before the vote on this subamendment, which I feel is superfluous. I don't think that it's necessary. On the other hand, the algorithms should be part of the information to which the CRTC has access if required.
Thank you.