Thank you Mr. Chairman.
I'm pleased to appear today on behalf of the RCMP and Commissioner Elliott.
The commissioner has asked me to express his appreciation for the opportunity for the RCMP to participate today and to convey his regrets for not being here.
The manner in which the RCMP conducts national security criminal investigations and manages criminal intelligence has evolved considerably over recent years. We continue to adapt to our ever-changing operating environment, as we build on opportunities for improvement and greater accountability in how we investigate criminal threats to national security and share criminal intelligence.
The recommendations of Justice O'Connor, as well as reports from the Auditor General and the Privacy Commissioner, have been instrumental in helping plan the way forward. In fact, the recommendations in part one of Justice O'Connor's report are today at the very heart of the RCMP's redesigned approach to national security criminal investigations.
We continue to strengthen our good relations with law enforcement and government partners. The new memorandum of understanding with Transport Canada will provide greater safety to all Canadians by enhancing security at our airports and marine ports. Let me stress that maintaining the trust and support of Canadians is fundamental to the transformation under way in our national security and criminal intelligence programs. We have enjoyed a number of high-profile operational successes, but we do need Canadians behind us to perform at our best.
In closing, Mr. Chair, we are all well aware that there is no single agency uniquely positioned to tackle all threats to our national security. Mitigating the perils of organized crime and terrorism requires a collaborative and coordinated effort among domestic and foreign enforcement, intelligence, and government partners.
Key to this collaboration is gathering, sharing, and managing information effectively to protect Canadians while respecting individual rights and freedoms. The RCMP is fully committed to both principles.
We thank the committee for its ongoing review of criminal intelligence-sharing in Canada, and we appreciate your support in improving national security for all Canadians.
Thank you. I would be pleased to respond to the questions of committee members.