Thank you, Mr. Chair.
My preference would have been for Mr. Therrien to continue, because he certainly is the expert in this field and has a lot to say.
Mr. Therrien, I want to thank you for being here today. I believe this is an important study. It's important because Canadians are seized with the issue of privacy. I think what it also does, Mr. Therrien, is allow this committee to look at the very issues that you've highlighted in your opening statement and that you've written to other privacy commissioners about. You've written to the government about protecting privacy in the pandemic.
What I really want to clarify has to do with the consultation of your office. I happen to believe, and I believe many Canadians do as well, that if it is not the Privacy Commissioner of Canada's office that needs to be consulted, then who else needs to be consulted? In other words, you are the standard by which privacy is met in this country, and yet we hear conflicting reports that you were consulted or you weren't consulted.
PHAC went out and advised that they were looking at other security experts and privacy experts. What would those other security and privacy experts offer the government that the Privacy Commissioner of Canada and his office could not?