Thank you all for being here.
I do not know where to begin, but I'm going to begin with the Auditor General. Ms. Fraser, you stated that the need for effective security is important, that Canadians are sophisticated enough to know the events in the world and their interplay, and that local events have made it imperative that we have solid security systems. However, you also stated that for Canadians to have confidence in their security intelligence system they need to know that the government agencies and departments maintain a balance between protecting the privacy of citizens and national security. You go on to say that you would have wanted an external, independent review. You suggest a system of external review and disclosure proportionate to the level of intrusion. There is preparatory work done, but it is not complete.
What are the risks this proportionality poses for Canadians? What comes to mind is Maher Arar, whose case has been our biggest albatross. It has been a shame on Canadians that we did it. Could you help me to understand what the risks will be? How would this independent review help alleviate the problems? I will ask all the agencies to answer. What lessons have you learned from the Air India inquiry, from the Maher Arar case and the other inquiries? If you have learned any lessons, why do we still have Canadian citizens sitting in jail in China and in Sudan?