Thank you, Mr. Chair.
The phrase “telecommunications system” stems from the existing vocabulary in the Telecommunications Act, which goes back many decades. This is speaking to the telecommunications facilities and services rather than the expressive commentary of individuals.
The types of threats that we may be concerned about would include an incident in 2016 when Canadian traffic bound for Korea was redirected to China for six months and opened up to surveillance in that regard. It can involve malware or ransomware that is threatening to bring down the telecommunications networks on which Canadians rely.
The order power in question refers to a reasonable necessity corresponding to the gravity of the threat in that instance. If other remediation mechanisms are not possible as a last resort, those are the circumstances of that authority.
In terms of confidentiality, that exists where divulging the vulnerability in question would invite greater cyber-attacks to the telecommunications services in question. It is subject to review in terms of notification to NSIRA, NSICOP and an annual report to Parliament that must describe the orders in question, including their necessity and reasonableness.