Thank you very much, Chair.
Thank you, Commissioner, and to staff, for appearing before us today.
I must say, starting off, I've never seen in my previous years as a journalist covering Parliament and legislatures in Canada, or in the almost decade in government here, such a direct, specific, and unequivocally negative assessment of a piece of government legislation.
That said, when the President of the Treasury Board appeared before us, he was equally clear, although he said, as you said, that the government will be pleased to receive proposals from the committee. He made it clear they're not likely to be accepted, and he justified that by saying there was provision for a one-year ministerial review after the coming into force of the bill.
I will have some detailed questions later, but given that possibility, and in fact that probability, do you believe that Canadians would be better served by the status quo than what you have very clearly stated is a regression of existing rights?