In Canada, the accountability problem is not one of more oversight, more bodies that are checking the government. It's one of fundamental transparency. If you want greater accountability in this country, you need greater transparency. As I said the last time I was here, this committee should have clearances to be able to examine all sorts of acquisition requirements—things that are moving forward—in order to be able to do its work.
This is fundamentally the issue. If you want to have greater accountability from government, you have to have greater transparency from government. We not only have the slowest procurement system; we are also one of the least transparent countries out there, particularly among the Five Eyes. The amount of information withheld from you that prevents you from doing your job, from holding the government to account, is astounding.
If we want greater accountability, step one is not more oversight; step one is greater transparency.