Thank you very much, Mr. Chair.
Thank you to our witnesses for being here today.
I'll start by perhaps just saying what's on the mind of, I think, a lot of people. It's becoming increasingly disturbing to watch individuals question the operational independence of law enforcement in this country.
Just earlier today, in the ethics committee, the Conservative MP for Brantford—Brant, Mr. Larry Brock, outright questioned the independence of the RCMP by claiming that because the commissioner of the RCMP is appointed by the Governor in Council and because they report to the Minister of Public Safety, the RCMP has a political agenda when it acts in its role. I really do want to know your reaction to that type of insinuation that the RCMP is not in fact operationally independent and is instead being governed by political interests.