First of all, Statistics Canada has always looked for advice on various matters from Canadians, eminent Canadians. In fact, we have 13 advisory committees in various subject-matter areas. We have seven federal-provincial committees, with representation from every province and territory. We have international experts who provide us with advice on a range of statistical matters. As you said, the National Statistics Council has been an integral part of the advice that we've been given. It has over 40 members, of whom 33 are active.
What we're talking about, in terms of the evolution of statistical systems in the world, is the formation of a council or body that can actually speak to Canadians transparently about the advice that it gives to the minister and the chief statistician. It speaks about the health of the national statistical system in comparison to the evolution of society, in terms of where statistical systems are going internationally. That's a gap in Canada currently.
In fact, as I said, we have sufficient representation of all aspects of society in the vast array of advisory committees that we have. What the legislation proposes is the creation of a Canadian statistics advisory council to fill the gap that, as you see in many other jurisdictions, is now formalized.