Chair, thanks very much.
The concern with this amendment is that it requires parliamentary approval as a precondition of appointment of intelligence commissioners. It's inconsistent with established practice. It's a concern for another reason, which is basically that intelligence commissioners would be retired judges, women and men with a lifetime of impartial service upholding the law. The introduction of a parliamentary process could not only dissuade candidates from serving; it could also risk politicizing the appointment process. It should be focused on the rigorous application of the law or the candidate's qualifications with respect to sensitive national security considerations. It's not a place for politics, in my view.