Thanks very much, Mr. Chair.
On the issue of foreign interference, the NDP brought forward, and Parliament passed, a motion calling for a public inquiry.
There is no doubt that NSICOP has an important role to play. We also firmly believe that a public inquiry is warranted and needed in this regard. When we look at the excellent recommendations you put forward, again there is a sense, as the allegations have come out in the last few months, of possible support by the Chinese government of certain candidates from a couple of political parties. Concerns were already raised last year around Russian interference in Canada. We saw this with the so-called “freedom convoy”, which caused such misery in downtown Ottawa, depriving people of groceries, medication, and sleep. These are major concerns.
I see the recommendations, but I also note that to adequately respond to the threat of foreign interference requires Elections Canada to be bolstered and the disinformation campaigns to be stopped. I see the recommendations, but do you feel that a broader degree of coordination is warranted to push back against this to ensure that, after you've done your review of previous elections, we can get the answers for Canadians and ensure that in future elections we can stop any possibility of those attempts to influence our electorate increasing or deepening in any way?
You offer these recommendations. What about the coordination to actually get them implemented?