Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Good morning. Mrs. Barrados, gentlemen, thank you for being here.
Mrs. Barrados, you may have to repeat yourself, but I want to make sure I fully understand what you said about appointments. On page 3 of your opening statement, you said and I quote:
We have identified gaps that need to be addressed with respect to processes involving Governor-in-Council appointments, political activities of public servants, and relations between the public service and the political sphere.
Further on, you said:
The Privy Council Office has processes in place with respect to GIC appointments [but you have no] assurance that the appointments [...] are merit-based [...].
Two things. You identified gaps, and, according to you, the Privy Council Office has a process in place.
Could you elaborate on the gaps you identified? Could you tell me what the process in place at the Privy Council Office is?
I would like to make another comment, and you can feel free to respond. It is no great secret that there are flaws in the appointment process at the Privy Council Office. There clearly seem to be some flaws. Why are you telling us about it today? Are you naive enough to think that the Privy Council Office's appointment process has no flaws?