First of all, the Competition Bureau, the Office of the Privacy Commissioner and the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission are three federal agencies with confidentiality obligations. They cannot swap information unless permitted to do so by law. They are not compelled, but they may share information to facilitate things for another organization, consumers or complainants. We can work in collaboration when the opportunity arises.
Secondly, clause 60 of the bill under review states that we can swap information and even do research for other foreign organizations, providing that there is an international arrangement. This is a good thing, but it is complicated. I have been a competition commissioner, and I know that it takes a great deal of time to do this. We have to get other organizations and departments to participate, there are always political considerations, and so forth.
I have taken a look at what the Americans have done on this issue. They felt that it was essential to be able to swap information with another country and do research for a foreign organization that has authority and legislative provisions similar to theirs. We are suggesting this approach because it is quick. Most of the spam comes from the United States. It is absolutely crucial that, at the outset, Canada and the United States be able to cooperate and help each other out. It will take several years before an international arrangement can be negotiated and, meanwhile, we will not be able to do anything about these emails coming from the United States.