Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Continuing along MP Brock's line of questions, I'd like to read from a letter from Commissioner Duheme to Michel Bédard, the Law Clerk and Parliamentary Counsel, dated July 25:
Subsequent to the Motion, the RCMP undertook a review and examination of the Office of the Auditor General of Canada...tabled report on SDTC, along with additional administrative reports by Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada and publicly available information. The RCMP has concluded that the available reports do not identify any criminal offences or evidence of criminal wrongdoing at this time, whether in relation to any specific individual or organization.
He does go on to say:
There is significant risk that the Motion could be interpreted as a circumvention of normal investigative processes and Charter protections.
He concludes:
[I'd] like to emphasize as well that the RCMP is operationally independent and strictly adheres to the principle of police independence. In a free and democratic society, this ensures that the government cannot direct or influence the actions of law enforcement and that law enforcement decisions remain based on the information and evidence available to police.
Ms. Hogan, the RCMP can request documents and get warrants for the documents it's seeking if it feels that's appropriate. Why, in your view, is there a need for Parliament to be paralyzed until the government and the OAG release documentation? Is the RCMP not capable of doing the investigations without the need for political intrusion? Do you have any thoughts on this?