Thank you for your comments. I agree with you entirely about political will. It's a matter of great sadness that Canada has not been able to rise to the occasion for over 25 years. I commend the current government for the Federal Accountability Act and the extension of the law to a number of additional agencies. I think that needs to be said and reinforced. However, it is a disturbing fact that our law does not pass muster vis-à-vis other Canadian laws or other international laws. We simply need to acknowledge that we've fallen far behind, and that's why so many of us are delighted that your committee has taken on this challenge.
Our courts have said that access to information is a quasi-constitutional right. The human rights acts of Canada are also termed quasi-constitutional. To give you an idea of just how important this is, access to information is of the same order of importance, our courts have said, as human rights legislation. That is, I think, why your question is so well placed and why the work of your committee is so important and timely.