I don't believe that the proposed amendment is necessary. It's duplicative. I think I mispronounced that word before, and that's why Mr. Garrison got his dander up. I didn't mean anything, and I realize that the mispronunciation carried with it a very different meaning.
The Security Intelligence Review Committee provides an annual report to Parliament on the performance by CSIS of its duties and functions. This will include the new threat reduction mandate. As such, a parliamentary study of the key provisions of CSIS' threat reduction mandate would overlap with the work undertaken by SIRC. Should Parliament deem it appropriate to conduct an additional review of any portion of the bill, including the threat reduction mandate, it will always have the discretion to undertake one.
The sunset provisions of the amendment are inconsistent with the intent of the legislation. The bill intends to strengthen Canada's national security by authorizing CSIS to take measures to reduce threats to the security of Canada. CSIS will take many such measures as part of ongoing, long-term investigations. An end date to the threat reduction mandate with a possibility, but not certainty, of periodic parliamentary extensions would create uncertainty, and will undermine CSIS' ability to effectively plan its operations with the goal of protecting national security.
Thank you, Mr. Chair.