Thank you.
The other two secretariats are Intelligence Assessment and the new Emergency Management and COVID‑19 Recovery Secretariat.
The national security threat posed by the so-called “freedom convoy” was multi-faceted and complex, and we are learning more about it daily. The protests, the occupation of the nation's capital and the blockades of critical infrastructure presented unprecedented challenges for government.
Freedom of expression and peaceful assembly are fundamental rights and must be protected in any democracy; however, the government has a responsibility to ensure safety and security for Canadians.
I want to emphasize that it was the totality of the circumstances that led me and others to recommend invoking the Emergencies Act. It is important to note that these measures were temporary and in place from February 14 to 23. They were carefully tailored to ensure that they were reasonable, proportionate and, thankfully, short-lived.
Others have appeared in order to provide information and context with regard to the broader implications of the myriad factors that led to how the Emergencies Act was invoked and carried out. I'm here to speak about the role of the NSIA as a coordinating body within the federal intelligence community as well as an adviser to the federal government.
My colleagues and I look forward to your questions.
I will end there.