Thank you.
We share the concerns over the time delay in a situation where there could be potential risks to the systems or vulnerabilities. The court process could add that delay, which we all know with a cyber-threat could be significant. However, keep in mind that we agree with some of the concerns Madame Michaud and others have raised in terms of accountability and transparency when an order is made.
We have proposed in G-5.1 what we think might help address those legitimate concerns without slowing things down. It would require a notification to NSICOP and NSIRA of any order being made. Under the protections around confidentiality of national security information, this would alert both groups so they know that an order was made.
I think we heard that the question would be, “How would anyone even know there was an order to look into to see that parliamentarians have accountability?” We can't support this particular amendment, because of the delay and potential risk that we worry it could add. However, we acknowledge the overall concerns about accountability and transparency. We think that notifying NSICOP and NSIRA every time an order is made will allow for that reflection to be done.
Again, that is in G-5.1, so we can't support this as is. Hopefully we can find a balance later on in that amendment.