No, that's good. Thank you.
This is not about expanding unchecked powers. It is about ensuring that when police have lawful grounds to act, they can do so in a timely way, especially when lives are at risk.
We are experts in this area. Last year alone, the Thunder Bay Police Service investigated 184 cyber-related cases. This involved more than 140 production orders, 80 search warrants, and over 1,370 devices being seized for examination. These efforts led to 20 victims being identified, and more than 240 charges laid. This is impressive for a five-person unit.
However, this is not about statistics. It's about protecting people. Bill C-22 will help services like ours, facing increasing demands with limited resources, reach victims more quickly. Let me illustrate this in a more realistic scenario.
Imagine a missing 14-year-old girl: Shawna. Her parents report that she has been communicating online with someone they believe is exploiting her. Investigators identify a username linked to a messaging platform. Time is critical. Under the current framework, confirming which service provider holds that account information and obtaining the basic subscriber data needed to proceed can take valuable hours or even days due to fragmented processes and outdated legal pathways.
Meanwhile, evidence suggests the suspect may be attempting to move Shawna across provincial or international borders. Every hour matters. Under Bill C-22, investigators could more quickly confirm the service provider tied to the account and proceed with the appropriate judicial authorization to obtain further evidence. In urgent circumstances, they could request limited emergency access to data to prevent imminent harm, while remaining fully accountable to strict legal thresholds and oversight. That time saved could mean locating Shawna before she is moved, before further harm occurs and before critical evidence disappears.
This is the reality police services face every day. We have multiple examples in Thunder Bay where we have youth as young as 14 being exploited and coming to our community from southern Ontario. The Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police has endorsed Bill C-22 because it strikes the right balance. It streamlines access to essential information, improves emergency data sharing and clarifies voluntary disclosures, while maintaining strong judicial and privacy safeguards. The Ontario Association of Chiefs of Police has also consistently called for modernizing lawful access tools.
Our members see first-hand how individuals and organized crime group networks have exploited legislative gaps. These actors are sophisticated and constantly evolving.
To keep communities safe, policing must evolve as well. Lawful access tools are not about surveillance overreach. They're about public protection. They allow investigators to understand criminal networks, prevent violence and rescue victims. Whether it's locating a missing youth, disrupting fentanyl trafficking, dismantling human-trafficking networks or combatting online exploitation, clear legal frameworks and modern tools are essential.
Bill C-22 represents an important step forward. It acknowledges that modern crime requires modern solutions. It ensures police can act quickly in urgent situations, while remaining firmly grounded in judicial authorizations, privacy laws and the Charter of Rights and Freedoms. At its core, the legislation is about protecting Canadians, especially the most vulnerable among us.
I urge you to support the timely passage of Bill C-22.
Thank you.