If I may, this panel is specifically put in place to deal with foreign threats to our democracy. We have Canadian legislation and mechanisms through the Commissioner of Canada Elections and the RCMP should there be a breach of Canadian law domestically. This is specifically with regard to foreign interference in the election. I would like to read the statement from the CEO of Elections Canada who, after the announcement, confirmed that he is an officer of Parliament and not a part of the Government of Canada:
In its preparations for the next federal election, Elections Canada has been working closely with the national security agencies and the Commissioner of Canada Elections. We rely on their expertise so we can focus on our primary objective: administering the election and ensuring Canadians know where, when, and ways to register and vote.
With regard to a matter of national security, that's where the Government of Canada and the whole-of-government approach, through this critical election incident public protocol, will come into play. However, with regard to the administration of the election, of course, the CEO of Elections Canada will remain the primary interlocutor that Canadians can trust and count on.