The consequence of these new, long table set-ups is that I get lost in the mix.
Thank you to our witnesses for joining us and helping guide the committee through this really important study.
Minister Virani, I'd like to start with you. I have some questions about the amendments to the Security of Information Act, otherwise known as SOIA.
In the existing SOIA, under section 24, it says “No prosecution shall be commenced for an offence against this Act without the consent of the Attorney General”—meaning you. There are some very consequential amendments to the SOIA in this bill, particularly proposed section 20.4, which is going to be added under “Political Interference for a Foreign Entity”.
I'm just looking ahead. The position of Attorney General is filled by an elected member of Parliament. Would it not be safe to remove the requirement for the consent of the Attorney General given that you're dealing here with offences that are of a political nature? Would it not be better to leave that to a senior civil servant? Do you have any thoughts on that?