Thank you, and thank you, Mr. Commissioner, for coming to visit us.
I'm going to ask you three questions. Let me preface my remarks by saying that I had the opportunity to be the attorney general in British Columbia for four and half years, and my responsibilities included policing at that time, among other things. I held the force in the highest regard, particularly the RCMP but all of the police forces in British Columbia—as is the case across the country. But that is not to say that there haven't been disappointments, and that's what I'm going to talk to you about.
You say there is now a mandate and responsibility to change the management practices. I'm using different language from what you have used. Let me take you back to an event that happened not in your time but before your time. We can't hold you responsible for it, but here's the question.
You remember the situation around the income trust debacle. I understand that the police officers and the police on the ground are independent operationally. Who, what, how, when, where, and whether or not they investigate, either something or someone, is a decision that they absolutely have the right to make, and I respect that.
But for some people, what happened during the income trust affair appeared to be a gross interference in an election, and right in the middle of an election. If you believe that was inappropriate—and I'd like to know whether you believe it was inappropriate—what steps have you taken to ensure that this kind of thing doesn't happen again? What protocols have been put in place to deal with politically sensitive issues, particularly in the middle of an election?