Regulatory sandboxes is an area outside of my formal responsibility, but I'll tell you my own views on them.
It's a great opportunity for Canadian industry to compete with other economies around the world that have embraced this new tool as a way to support innovation in high-growth potential companies and to find new solutions to old problems in existing industries. That's really what it is, at the core. We can have a different set of rules while we test out something new, so we don't miss out on the economic opportunities that result.
If there are real considerations around exempting the Criminal Code, ethical concerns or concerns that speak to the integrity of those who have the official authority to deploy the powers contemplated by the budget implementation act, it's very appropriate for this committee and Parliament to express their views, either through amendments or through a study with recommendations to government.
I was satisfied with the protections, when I reviewed them, around the limited scope of the authority, given its temporal nature, the public requirement and the need to specify what the authority is being used for. However, I don't want to suggest that this is a preordained outcome. My colleagues around the cabinet table, I find, are willing to consider amendments. Again, we don't agree with them all.
This is a conversation about whether we're going to ignore a tool that we know exists and has helped countries grow their economies, or figure out how to use that tool in a responsible way. I think we should use the tool in a responsible way.