Thank you very much, Madam Chair. Through you, I'd like to thank the witnesses for being here.
Today's meeting is focused on the question of privilege related to the intimidation campaign against MP Chong. I understand, Monsieur Jean, that you were the NSIA from May 2015 until May 2018. With respect to the specifics of the question of privilege, you were no longer in that position when this specific issue was happening with this specific MP, because we understand now, from testimony from the head of CSIS, that the IMU came out after sanctions, following the February 2021 vote in the House of Commons on MP Chong's opposition day motion. I'm going to come to the two of you in your expertise in intelligence and ask some questions.
Mr. Juneau-Katsuya, you mentioned something in answer to a previous question with respect to candidates running who may or may not be loyal to Canada and so on and so forth. As you are both aware, I'm sure, on June 28, 2017, the National People's Congress in China passed the National Intelligence Law and outlined the first official authorization of intelligence in the People's Republic of China. This is a quote:
The intelligence law highlights one important continuing trend within the state security legal structure put in place since 2014: everyone is responsible for state security. As long as national intelligence institutions are operating within their proper authorities, they may, according to Article 14, “request relevant organs, organisations, and citizens provide necessary support, assistance, and cooperation”.
Based on this change, this legislation, could you give us some feedback in terms of the change in posture with respect to our intelligence gathering? We know that the position of the national security adviser changed to the national security and intelligence adviser from an OIC dated April 28, 2017. We know that the question of intelligence was increasing in terms of our capabilities or where we were focusing. Can you give us a little more information on how that changed Canada's position and posture with respect to intelligence gathering?