Let me broaden the issue.
I think Canadians are rightfully concerned about their privacy rights. They should be. Every Canadian should protect their privacy with the utmost vigour and their free speech with the same level of vigour.
What we're trying to do here is in no way to impede an individual's right to free expression or their individual ability to access the Internet or other telecommunications services. As Mr. Arbour has explained, under the narrowest of circumstances and as a last resort, we are going after individuals who pose a threat to our telecommunications system.
Oftentimes it's dangerous to read legislation in a manner that doesn't connect to other long-standing legal covenants. I think it's important, in the context of legislative review, to look at the established covenants and legal principles in which we're working. I can appreciate some of the concerns that are expressed, but they are ill-founded and without merit.
What is important for the purpose of this committee.... I would really implore this committee to look at where we are today with respect to the challenges around cybersecurity and what measures we need to take, as parliamentarians, to protect everyone in Canada and every piece of critical infrastructure—telecommunications and others—and to safeguard against threats.